UEFA Files Legal Discovery Motions Against FIFA, Infantino, Thrive Capital Over Failed World Cup Scheme

UEFA filed legal discovery motions in three U.S. federal courts on Thursday against FIFA, Gianni Infantino, Thrive Capital, and Greg Maffei, seeking documents about the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme with the stated goal of supporting criminal charges against Infantino in Switzerland, per Front Office Sports reporting. The motions were filed in the Southern District of New York, Southern District of Florida, and the District of Colorado. UEFA chose the three jurisdictions because FIFA maintains a U.S. office in Miami, Thrive Capital is based in New York, and Maffei is based in Colorado. UEFA's filings state it seeks documents about the formation of FIFA Forward Enterprise, communications between stakeholders, the pitch deck given to investors, valuation models, and other materials. Infantino's plan for FIFA Forward Enterprise would have included $4.2 billion from outside investors, with According to UEFA's filing, FIFA reached an absurdly low enterprise value of only approximately $20 billion for the entity. UEFA claims the $4.2 billion figure is a fraudulently off-market price promoted by Infantino for his own benefit. Thrive Eternal owns a stake in the San Francisco Giants. According to Financial Times reporting cited in the Front Office Sports account, Kushner brought the FIFA Forward Enterprise idea to Maffei last summer. Greg Maffei was described by FIFA in its press release announcing FIFA Forward Enterprise as a key commercial adviser who would remain involved in the establishment of the entity. UEFA's filings note that Kushner and Maffei's firm Bann are not anticipated defendants in an eventual Swiss criminal case. J.P. Morgan, which was also involved in the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, is not named in the legal filings. UEFA called FIFA Forward Enterprise a vehicle for Infantino and a small circle to acquire a permanent stake in and otherwise profit from FIFA's most valuable assets to the detriment of FIFA, its members and other parties within the football family. The filings include a wider condemnation of Infantino's FIFA, including his relationship with President Donald Trump, his reported use of FIFA funds for personal items, and his ability to run for a fourth term as FIFA president after saying his first three years didn't count toward term limits. The FIFA Forward Enterprise idea was called off on July 31. On Wednesday, several outlets reported UEFA would drop its boycott of all FIFA tournaments ahead of the upcoming Women's U-20 World Cup, a move that was welcomed in a statement by FIFA. Earlier this month, Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger announced a deal to buy the majority of the Los Angeles Lakers. FIFA, Thrive Capital, and Maffei did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to Front Office Sports.