FIFA has until September 28 to submit a full opposition to the court in the Southern District of Florida, where UEFA's discovery application is being considered. The application, filed in a Manhattan court, seeks discovery of potential evidence from Thrive Capital Management, a New York investment fund founded by Joshua Kushner. According to UEFA, the documents are required for use in preparing potential criminal proceedings in Switzerland.
Thrive Capital Management was to be the anchor investors intending to pay FIFA $4.2 billion for a 20% stake in a subsidiary that would run the soccer body's commercial events, including the World Cup. However, FIFA's president Gianni Infantino withdrew the plan on August 1 amid opposition from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and Concacaf.
FIFA's main argument is that UEFA's opposition to the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise subsidiary and to Infantino is motivated by a desire to prevent smaller countries from competing with the European elite. UEFA, however, claims that its motivation is to prevent smaller countries from having the financial strength to compete with the European elite.