UEFA threatens to sue FIFA following controversy over plans to sell football broadcasting rights to private investors.
On 3 August 2026, The Telegraph reported that UEFA sent an official letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino threatening legal action regarding plans to sell shares in FIFA World Cup tournaments and other FIFA competitions to private investors.
UEFA not only rejected the project but also issued an official warning to Infantino and others involved, demanding that all related documents and materials be preserved to prepare for possible legal proceedings.
* Background: On Tuesday, Infantino announced a plan to sell a 20% stake in a new entity called “FIFA Forward Enterprise,” which would manage commercial operations and tournament organization, aiming to raise up to $4.2 billion from external investors. This sparked a strong backlash across the football community.
UEFA held an emergency meeting with its 55 member nations, unanimously voting 55-0 to reject the plan and announcing a boycott of all FIFA competitions if Infantino proceeded. The North American football confederation (Concacaf) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also publicly opposed the plan.
Most recently, Infantino reversed course and canceled the share sale plan last Saturday after unprecedented rejection from continental and national federations. Opposition intensified following revelations about links to associates of Donald Trump. However, for UEFA, the matter is not over—they continue to pressure Infantino to resign from his FIFA presidency.