Fifa president Gianni Infantino finds himself under mounting pressure as a legal dispute with Uefa threatens to unravel the political protection he has cultivated in recent years, most notably his close relationship with US President Donald Trump.
The controversy stems from allegations that Fifa engaged in what Uefa describes as "criminal mismanagement" in the sale of World Cup-related assets, with claims centering on an alleged undervaluing of the deal. Infantino reportedly stood to receive a substantial personal salary connected to the arrangement, though this element is said to be separate from the core legal complaint.
For weeks, Infantino has faced criticism over reports of an undisclosed plan to sell off shared global football assets for personal benefit. Despite the sustained scrutiny, his position had appeared relatively secure until this week, when two significant developments suggested his political shield may be weakening.
The first came from Josh Kushner, who was reportedly named as a party to discovery proceedings in Florida related to the case. Kushner, whose brother Jared is married to Trump's daughter Ivanka, served as a key financial figure behind Fifa's controversial "Forward" program. In a statement this week, Kushner said he "would not have gotten involved" in Fifa's plans had he known the full picture, adding that the situation was regrettable. Kushner has also enlisted high-profile attorney Alex Spiro, known for representing figures including Elon Musk and Alec Baldwin in prominent legal matters.
The second development was Fifa's own counter-filing this week, which characterized the entire episode as a "smear campaign" while explicitly signaling an intention to resist the discovery process — the legal mechanism requiring the sharing of internal documents, memos and communications from the period in question.
This resistance to discovery is seen as particularly telling, as it suggests concern about what internal records might reveal regarding Infantino's dealings during his period of close alignment with Trump's political orbit. Uefa is reportedly seeking discovery not only from Fifa but also from Kushner's Thrive Capital and Greg Maffei, a Trump donor and deal adviser, both of whom had involvement during Infantino's period of access to political power circles.
Trump's public backing of Infantino, expressed via a Truth Social post in early August, warned that removing the Fifa president "for any reason" would be a negative outcome. However, no further public support has emerged since that statement, prompting speculation about whether the relationship has cooled.
Meanwhile, Infantino continues efforts to shore up support ahead of a Fifa congress scheduled for November, reportedly touring various football federations to secure backing. Saudi Arabia has offered what has been described as qualified support for Infantino "at this time," though the durability of such endorsements remains uncertain given the unfolding legal situation.
The case draws comparisons to previous football governance scandals, including the downfall of former Fifa president Sepp Blatter and former Uefa chief Michel Platini, whose exits from football were similarly precipitated by allegations that emerged unexpectedly and escalated rapidly.
As the legal process continues, attention will focus on whether courts grant Uefa's request for discovery, a decision that could determine whether internal Fifa communications and financial arrangements from the disputed period become public. Legal proceedings of this nature can often stall or dissolve, but the pressure applied by Uefa's continued pursuit of the case appears designed to maintain uncertainty around Infantino's position regardless of the ultimate legal outcome.
Based on reporting from The Guardian (Barney Ronay).