UEFA is considering legal action against FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, over the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal.
The warning concerns a project under which FIFA intended to consolidate its commercial rights and tournament operations within FIFA Forward Enterprise, or FFE. FIFA said the subsidiary would remain under its control while minority investors acquired non-controlling interests. The governing body valued FFE at $20 billion and proposed raising up to $4.2 billion to support expanded football development funding.
The consultation was announced on 28 July 2026 and required support from a majority of FIFA Member Associations, as well as approval from the FIFA Council. It covered broadcast, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing rights, together with the operational delivery of tournaments.
The governing body identified Thrive Eternal as the expected lead investor, with Greg Maffei acting as commercial adviser and J.P. Morgan and OpenEconomics supporting the process.
Opposition developed quickly. CONCACAF said it had learned of the proposal through media reports and criticised the absence of prior discussion with relevant governance bodies and stakeholders. Its 41 Member Associations later rejected the plan and instructed their representatives on the FIFA Council to press for proper consideration under the FIFA Statutes.
FIFA withdrew the proposal on 31 July after Infantino accepted that the divisions it had created were incompatible with the organisation’s stated objective of uniting the game.
UEFA’s subsequent legal notice raises questions that extend beyond whether the transaction will proceed. The threatened routes reportedly include court proceedings, arbitration and complaints to regulators, while the preservation demand concerns documents and electronically stored information linked to FFE.
UEFA’s warning may trigger document-preservation duties before any claim is issued, once litigation or arbitration is reasonably expected.
Solicitors advising UEFA, FIFA and other international federations will examine whether the FIFA Forward Enterprise approval process, consultation timetable and allocation of authority complied with the FIFA Statutes and the role of the FIFA Council.
In-house counsel should ensure that senior executives, commercial teams and external advisers retain relevant communications as soon as a dispute becomes foreseeable. Any proceedings could require barristers to address jurisdiction, arbitration, available remedies and whether UEFA or FIFA Member Associations have standing to challenge the governing body’s decision-making process.
Thrive Eternal, Greg Maffei, J.P. Morgan and OpenEconomics were involved in the proposed transaction, but their involvement alone does not imply wrongdoing. Law firms will need to separate commercial participation from legal responsibility if the dispute leads to disclosure, regulatory action or proceedings in more than one jurisdiction.