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UEFA has escalated its extraordinary dispute with FIFA, formally threatening legal action despite football\u2019s governing body abandoning its controversial Football Future Enterprise (FFE) proposal following widespread backlash across world football.<\/p>\n
Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n Under the controversial FFE proposal, FIFA was seeking to sell a minority stake in the newly created entity to outside investors.<\/p>\n FIFA claimed the proposal could have generated up to US$4.2 billion based on a US$20 billion valuation, with each of its 211 member associations set to receive a one-off payment of US$20 million while increasing their funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle from US$8 million to US$20 million.<\/p>\n But the plan was met with fierce resistance<\/a> across world football. UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA competitions if it proceeded, while CONCACAF labelled the proposal an example of \u201cpoor governance and leadership\u201d and called for \u201ca comprehensive reckoning\u201d with FIFA president Gianni Infantino.<\/p>\n Despite FIFA\u2019s dramatic retreat, the matter appears far from over.<\/p>\n In a formal legal preservation notice sent to FIFA, UEFA confirmed it is actively considering legal proceedings, arbitration and regulatory complaints over the proposal and has instructed FIFA to preserve all relevant documents and communications.<\/p>\n \u201cUEFA hereby gives formal notice that it is actively considering legal action, arbitration, and\/or regulatory complaints arising out of and in connection with the FFE plan proposed by FIFA and all related matters,\u201d the notice read.<\/p>\n The governing body warned FIFA that it must immediately preserve all documents and electronically stored information relating to the proposal, regardless of its normal document retention policies.<\/p>\n Pressure grows on Infantino and FIFA | 00:52<\/p>\n \u201cYou and FIFA are required to take immediate steps to identify, locate, and preserve all documents and electronically stored information.. These obligations arise independently of any internal retention policy… and supersede any routine document destruction or deletion policies.\u201d<\/p>\n Although UEFA welcomed FIFA\u2019s decision to abandon the proposal, it said the process had severely damaged trust in world football\u2019s governing body, accusing FIFA of pursuing a \u201cshabby, back room, opaque deal\u201d and declaring it had lost confidence in Infantino\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n MORE FOOTBALL NEWS<\/b><\/p>\n FIFA WORLD CUP: Football powers demand FIFA boss quits<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n