UEFA has asked a United States court to reject an application by FIFA’s American subsidiaries to intervene in its effort to obtain documents and testimony from Thrive Capital and its founder, Joshua Kushner.
The request is linked to UEFA’s preparation of a possible criminal complaint in Switzerland concerning FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal. The plan would have sold private investors a permanent stake in commercial and operational rights connected to the men’s and women’s World Cups and Club World Cups. Thrive was identified as the proposed lead investor in a transaction reportedly valued at $4.2 billion for a 20% stake.
UEFA is seeking access to valuation documents, financial projections, internal analyses and communications relating to the proposal. It has said that neither Thrive nor Kushner is an anticipated defendant in the potential Swiss proceedings, and that the discovery request is intended to gather evidence rather than establish wrongdoing. The allegations have not been proven.
FIFA withdrew the plan after widespread opposition, but the decision has not ended the dispute. UEFA’s filings accuse Infantino and other possible FIFA officials of potential criminal mismanagement under Swiss law, while Infantino is expected to seek a fourth term as FIFA president in 2027.
The 2030 World Cup has generated a separate controversy. Morocco will co-host the tournament with Spain and Portugal, and construction is under way on the proposed 115,000-capacity Hassan II Stadium near Casablanca. Royal Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa said the venue would host the final, but FIFA rejected the claim and said the location had not yet been decided.
In England, Liverpool have agreed a five-year main-shirt partnership with Turkish Airlines beginning in the 2027-28 season. The deal, reportedly worth more than £300 million, will end the club’s 17-year relationship with Standard Chartered and generate more than £60 million per season.
Elsewhere, Hull City confirmed that Wales winger Sorba Thomas was uninjured after a car accident near the club’s training ground. Manchester City also moved to the top of the Premier League after Erling Haaland scored the only goal in a narrow victory over newly promoted Coventry City, although manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged that his side must improve before Sunday’s derby against Manchester United.
