FIFA has launched its strongest legal response yet to UEFA’s challenge over the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project, accusing European football’s governing body of harassment and a “misinformation campaign” against president Gianni Infantino.

The dispute moved back into focus on September 28, 2026, when FIFA entities asked a U.S. federal court in Florida to reject UEFA’s request for documents and testimony connected to a possible criminal complaint in Switzerland. Reuters reported that FIFA’s filing disputes UEFA’s description of the project and argues that the application should not be used to influence FIFA’s forthcoming presidential election.

What Is the FIFA Forward Enterprise Dispute?

FFE was a proposed FIFA subsidiary designed to attract private investment into commercial rights connected with major competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups and the Club World Cup. UEFA has alleged that Infantino and a small group of advisers and investors developed the plan without adequate consultation with FIFA’s Council, continental confederations or the 211 member associations.

UEFA’s August filing in Florida sought discovery from FIFA (Americas), Inc. and FWC2026 US, Inc. under Section 1782 of U.S. law. The evidence request is intended for use in a potential Swiss criminal proceeding, with UEFA alleging concerns over how the transaction was designed, valued and approved. The Florida case was filed on August 27, 2026.

FIFA Rejects UEFA’s Allegations

In its latest filing, FIFA said UEFA made “false or misleading statements” and rejected any suggestion that Infantino intended to personally profit from FFE. FIFA argued that the proposal would have required approval from FIFA’s member associations and Council and would have remained subject to internal oversight.

A major point of disagreement is the valuation. UEFA said investors would have paid about $4.2 billion for a stake in FFE at an equity valuation of around $20 billion. FIFA countered that UEFA was confusing equity value with enterprise value, saying materials circulated to members placed FFE’s enterprise value at more than $30 billion.

Why Was the FFE Plan Abandoned?

The investment plan was withdrawn in July 2026 following opposition from several confederations, including UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation. The controversy also intensified calls for greater transparency and stronger governance safeguards within FIFA.

The legal battle therefore extends beyond the abandoned transaction. UEFA is seeking information that it says could help determine whether further proceedings are warranted, while FIFA is challenging both the substance and purpose of the discovery requests.

Election Adds Another Layer

Infantino is seeking another term as FIFA president, with the election scheduled for March 2027. FIFA says UEFA’s court actions, coming ahead of the election process, could improperly affect the contest. UEFA has not immediately responded to the latest allegations.

Last week, Infantino proposed an independent review of FIFA’s decision-making processes after the FFE controversy. FIFA’s Council is also due to consider proposals concerning future financial distributions to member associations at its October 15 meeting.

What Happens Next?

The Florida court must decide whether UEFA can obtain the requested evidence. Any eventual Swiss proceedings would be a separate matter and would require their own legal process. At present, the central issue remains a dispute between two of football’s most powerful governing bodies over transparency, commercial strategy and institutional authority.

The outcome could influence how FIFA structures major commercial initiatives in the future and how much scrutiny its leadership faces when handling high-value football assets.

For football stakeholders, the case raises practical questions about oversight, valuation methods, disclosure standards and the boundaries of presidential authority for now.