Paris (France) (AFP) – UEFA's intention to launch a legal suit accusing FIFA president Gianni Infantino of "criminal mismanagement" is a "massive escalation" of their feud, a former marketing director of the International Olympic Committee told AFP.
UEFA, European football's governing body, has urged Infantino to resign over his now-abandoned plan to bring private investment into the World Cup.On Thursday, UEFA withdrew "on a provisional basis" its threat to boycott FIFA tournaments, but not before dropping a bombshell by announcing it was "considering legal action arising out of and in connection with the FFE plan proposed by FIFA.""UEFA and other interested parties are preparing to bring criminal claims in Switzerland against Infantino and possibly other FIFA officials and advisors for criminal mismanagement," read the legal document drawn up by UEFA's US-based lawyers and to be filed in a court in Florida.For Michael Payne, former head of marketing at the IOC, this could prove to be devastating for Infantino."UEFA's legal threat, going after Infantino and FIFA for 'criminal mismanagement' is a massive escalation -- a move no member federation has ever undertaken against a governing body for over a century," he told AFP."Discovery, if the papers are ever released, will not paint a pretty picture, and open up a whole new focus around Infantino's leadership and governance -- or lack of."Terrence Burns, who served as brand and marketing strategist for two successful World Cup host bids, said it could affect Infantino's hopes of being re-elected to a fourth and final term in Rabat next March."I think the legal threat is the better weapon of the two," he told AFP."A boycott hurts the players and the fans, and it could make Infantino look like the victim."Going the legal route does the opposite because it's aimed at him personally, not at the game, and it keeps the story alive on a timetable FIFA cannot control."And that's the real point!"It could run through the November nomination deadline (November 18 for candidates to declare) and into the March vote."'Civil war'
