Fifa Accuses Uefa of 'Smear Campaign' Amid World Cup Deal Dispute

Fifa has vehemently denied allegations from Uefa, accusing the European football governing body of orchestrating a "smear campaign" against Fifa President Gianni Infantino. The dispute stems from Fifa's now-scrapped plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors, a move that has led to legal challenges and public exchanges between the two organizations.

In a recent US federal filing, Fifa attorneys urged a judge to dismiss Uefa's request for discovery, characterizing it as "little more than press releases." This legal maneuver is part of an escalating conflict that has seen Uefa reportedly considering a criminal case against Infantino. The situation has also drawn commentary from football figures like Thierry Henry, who believes players possess more power than they realize to influence the sport's governance.