FIFA accuses UEFA of 'smear campaign' against Infantino

2026-09-03 18:06 UTC – 2026-09-04 09:59 UTC

Neutral summary

FIFA has accused UEFA of running a “smear campaign” and a “fishing expedition” after the European body asked US judges to force FIFA to hand over documents related to its failed plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors. The dispute centres on the FIFA Forward Enterprise project, which would have sold a 20% stake for $4.2 billion; after all 55 UEFA federations threatened to boycott tournaments, FIFA abandoned the plan. UEFA is now preparing possible legal action against FIFA president Gianni Infantino over alleged “criminal mismanagement” and is seeking evidence through US courts for a potential criminal complaint in Switzerland. FIFA dismissed the court applications as “little more than press releases” supporting the campaign against the organisation and asked for them to be rejected or postponed.

How it was framed

Outlets: 27. Countries: 11. Facts in the shared core: 5.

Publication timeline

2026-09-03 18:06 · Channel NewsAsia (outlet profile)
FIFA accuses UEFA of 'smear campaign' in fight over Infantino plan
2026-09-03 18:33 · Sky Sports (outlet profile)
FIFA accuses UEFA of launching 'smear campaign' against Gianni Infantino. FIFA has accused European football’s governing body of launching a “smear campaign” against Gianni Infantino in a challenge to…
2026-09-03 18:47 · Dawn (outlet profile)
FIFA blasts UEFA 'smear campaign', fights World Cup plan disclosures. FIFA has accused UEFA of a “smear campaign” and a “fishing expedition” after European football’s governing body asked US judges to force it to hand o…
2026-09-03 19:12 · TheJournal.ie (outlet profile)
FIFA accuses UEFA of 'smear campaign' in forcing document handover about World Cup investor plan. UEFA is preparing possible legal action against FIFA president Gianni Infantino for alleged ‘criminal mismanagement’.
2026-09-03 19:16 · Kicker (outlet profile)
Vorgehen vor US-Gerichten: FIFA wirft UEFA "Schmutzkampagne" vor. Die UEFA hatte vor US-Gerichten jüngst die Offenlegung interner Dokumente zum geplanten Investorendeal von FIFA-Präsident Gianni Infantino gefordert. Der…
2026-09-03 19:17 · GB News (outlet profile)
Fifa accuses Uefa of waging 'smear campaign' against Gianni Infantino. Fifa has accused Uefa of waging a "smear campaign" against the governing body's president, Gianni Infantino. The world governing body has filed a le…
2026-09-03 19:20 · The Independent (outlet profile)
Fifa accuses Uefa of ‘smear campaign’ against Gianni Infantino. Fifa accused Uefa of a ‘smear campaign’ in a dramatic escalation of the war of words between the two football bodies
2026-09-03 19:43 · Al Jazeera (outlet profile)
FIFA blasts UEFA ‘smear campaign,’ fights World Cup plan disclosures. UEFA seeks US testimony, documents for possible lawsuit; FIFA asks US court to defer or let it oppose UEFA's request.
2026-09-03 19:46 · WalesOnline (outlet profile)
FIFA blast UEFA over ‘smear campaign’ as explosive new statement is launched. UEFA have criticised Gianni Infantino for months following controversial plans to sell stakes in the World Cup, with FIFA now responding
2026-09-03 20:48 · Ouest-France (outlet profile)
Gianni Infantino et la Fifa dénoncent la « campagne de dénigrement » de l’UEFA après l’abandon du projet polémique. La guerre entre la Fifa et l’UEFA se poursuit autour du projet abandonné d’ouverture de la Coupe du mon…
2026-09-03 20:59 · ТАСС (outlet profile)
The Athletic: ФИФА обвинила УЕФА в клевете против руководства организации. Ранее журналист Роб Харрис сообщил, что УЕФА готовится инициировать уголовное преследование президента ФИФА Джанни Инфантино за попытки продать…
2026-09-03 21:07 · The Mirror (outlet profile)
FIFA accuse UEFA of launching 'smear campaign' against Gianni Infantino. FIFA and UEFA's bitter public spat has taken another turn with the latter accused of launching a 'smear campaign' against Gianni Infantino followi…
2026-09-03 21:13 · Ateo Breaking (outlet profile)
FIFA обвинила УЕФА в клеветнической кампании в отношении руководства организации, передает портал The Athletic Ранее журналист Роб Харрис сообщил, что УЕФА готовится инициировать уголовное преследование президента FIFA…
2026-09-03 21:31 · Daily Mail (outlet profile)
FIFA accuse UEFA of a 'smear campaign' against Gianni Infantino and Co after European body threatened legal action as war over failed World Cup sell-off plans escalates. FIFA says legal applications made by UEFA to acce…
2026-09-03 21:48 · UOL (outlet profile)
Fifa acusa Uefa de tramar "campanha de difamação". A Fifa acusou a Uefa de promover uma "campanha de difamação" contra a entidade em meio à oposição da confederação europeia ao presidente da principal organização do fut…
2026-09-03 22:01 · Folha de S.Paulo (outlet profile)
Fifa acusa Uefa de tramar 'campanha de difamação'. A Fifa (Federação Internacional) acusou a Uefa (União das Associações Europeias de Futebol ) de promover uma "campanha de difamação". A afirmação se deu no contexto da…
2026-09-03 22:09 · The Independent (outlet profile)
FIFA accuses European body UEFA of 'smear campaign' in filing related to World Cup sell-off plan. FIFA has accused European soccer body UEFA of a “smear campaign” in a court filing
2026-09-03 22:11 · El Nacional (outlet profile)
FIFA señala que la UEFA ejecuta una “campaña de desprestigio” en su contra. La FIFA reaccionó de esta forma luego de que la UEFA pidiera a jueces estadounidenses que obligara al órgano rector del balompié a entregar doc…
2026-09-03 22:12 · UOL (outlet profile)
Fifa acusa Uefa de tramar 'campanha de difamação'
2026-09-03 22:33 · The Independent (outlet profile)
UEFA accused of launching ‘smear campaign’ against Fifa president Gianni Infantino
2026-09-03 22:35 · DW (Deutsche Welle) (outlet profile)
FIFA blames UEFA for 'smear campaign' against Infantino. The dispute between the two football associations reached a US court, in which UEFA is looking for permission to collect evidence for criminal proceedings in Swit…
2026-09-03 22:54 · O Globo (outlet profile)
Fifa acusa Uefa de tramar 'campanha de difamação'; confederação europeia se opõe a Infantino. A Fifa acusou a Uefa de promover uma "campanha de difamação" contra a entidade em meio à oposição da confederação europeia ao…
2026-09-03 23:01 · Le Monde (outlet profile)
La FIFA dénonce une « campagne de dénigrement » menée par l’UEFA à son égard. Dans le sillage du projet économique avorté de la FIFA, l’instance européenne prépare une action en justice contre le patron du foot mondial,…
2026-09-03 23:16 · www.rbc.ru (outlet profile)
ФИФА обвинила УЕФА в «клеветнической кампании». ФИФА обвинила УЕФА в «клеветнической кампании» после серии судебных исков в США. Конфликт вызван проектом FFE, УЕФА не исключает возбуждения уголовных дел против Джанни Ин…
2026-09-04 01:02 · Metropoles (outlet profile)
Fifa acusa Uefa de "campanha difamatória" em processo judicial sobre a FFE. Em um processo judicial na justiça dos EUA, a Fifa acusa a Uefa de promover o que chamou de "campanha difamatória" contra a entidade
2026-09-04 01:25 · The Japan Times (outlet profile)
FIFA accuses UEFA of running ‘smear campaign’ against Gianni Infantino. Infantino, up for reelection for a fourth term in March 2027, has been criticized since tabling the now-abandoned proposal to sell stakes in the Wo…
2026-09-04 02:39 · Коммерсантъ (outlet profile)
FIFA обвинила UEFA в «клеветнической кампании» против руководства. Международная федерация футбола (FIFA) обвинила Союз европейских футбольных ассоциаций (UEFA) в «кампании по очернению». Об этом сообщает The Telegraph.
2026-09-04 03:09 · DW (Deutsche Welle) (outlet profile)
FIFA accuses UEFA of 'smear campaign' against Infantino. The dispute between the two football associations reached a US court, in which UEFA is looking for permission to collect evidence for criminal proceedings in Swit…
2026-09-04 07:24 · Lenta.ru (outlet profile)
ФИФА обвинила УЕФА в клеветнической кампании
2026-09-04 07:31 · Die Welt (outlet profile)
Infantino schlägt zurück – Machtkampf im Weltfußball eskaliert. Der Machtkampf im Weltfußball verlagert sich vor US-Gerichte. Die Uefa bereitet ein Strafverfahren gegen Fifa-Präsident Gianni Infantino vor. Der wiederum…
2026-09-04 08:54 · O Globo (outlet profile)
Fifa acusa Uefa de promover ‘campanha de difamação’ contra Gianni Infantino. A crise entre Fifa e Uefa ganhou um novo capítulo e chegou aos tribunais. A entidade que comanda o futebol mundial acusou formalmente a confed…
2026-09-04 09:59 · Readovka (outlet profile)
УЕФА устроила «клеветническую кампанию» против ФИФА, заявили в федерации Международная федерация футбола (ФИФА) обвинила УЕФА в «клеветнической кампании» против нее и ее президента Джанни Инфантино, пишет The Athletic.…

Factual core

FIFA accused UEFA of conducting a defamatory campaign against it.
FIFA accused UEFA of launching a smear campaign against FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The dispute centers on FIFA's proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup.
FIFA has filed a legal complaint in a US court against UEFA.
UEFA petitioned US courts to force FIFA to release documents about a failed plan to attract investors for the World Cup.

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