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UEFA has reportedly mounted a sharp legal challenge against FIFA president Gianni Infantino, warning the under-pressure chief not to destroy any documents linked to his unsuccessful plan to sell stakes in the World Cup. The European governing body has formally notified FIFA that it is weighing legal action and regulatory complaints after the collapse of the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project.

The failed World Cup sale plan

Infantino’s ambitious proposal for a $20 billion commercial subsidiary, called FFE, unravelled dramatically earlier this week. The idea was to sell a 20 percent stake in FIFA’s most valuable assets to a private investor consortium, reportedly led by a New York investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, who is the son-in-law of United States President Donald Trump. But the proposal sparked widespread condemnation, with UEFA leading its 55 member associations in threatening to boycott all FIFA competitions if the plan went ahead.

Confronted by an unprecedented revolt both inside and outside the organisation, Infantino was forced into an embarrassing U-turn. In a statement confirming that the project had been scrapped, the FIFA president said: "Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place."

UEFA issues formal legal notice

After the FFE project fell apart, UEFA specifically warned Infantino and FIFA that any attempt to delete or modify documents connected to the failed plan could be treated as a criminal act. According to a letter seen by the Telegraph, the European governing body wrote: "UEFA hereby gives formal notice that it is actively considering legal action, arbitration, and/or regulatory complaints (together, the 'proceedings') arising out of and in connection with the FFE plan proposed by FIFA and all related matters as further described below.

"You and FIFA are required to take immediate steps to identify, locate, and preserve all documents and electronically stored information described in this notice that are in your or FIFA's possession, custody, or control.

"These obligations arise independently of any internal retention policy you or your organisation maintain and supersede any routine document destruction or deletion policies that would otherwise apply.

"Given that proceedings are reasonably anticipated, you are obliged to preserve all relevant materials (as defined below) with immediate effect."

A scheme 'fundamentally incompatible' with football

Along with demanding that document deletion be halted, the European governing body strongly criticised the credibility of the proposal itself, while stressing FIFA’s immediate legal obligation to protect all relevant records.

Beyond the strict legal warning, UEFA also repeated the widespread anger caused by the secret talks. Highlighting the broader global opposition to the commercial subsidiary, the letter added: "UEFA – as well as other confederations, FIFA member associations, and football stakeholders – has strongly condemned the FFE plan in the strongest terms as fundamentally incompatible with the proper governance of football."

Infantino’s presidency on the brink

The consequences of the FFE debacle have left Infantino battling for his political survival ahead of the next elections. Although he had earlier been expected to stand unopposed, distrust has now risen to such a level that a vote of no confidence is being openly discussed. Sentiment across the continent is overwhelmingly critical, and internal resignations by senior figures such as senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro have further isolated the president.