Kushner’s remarks come on the heels of Uefa’s recent motion in a New York court, where it seeks approval for subpoenas aimed at both him and Thrive. This legal maneuver could pave the way for a potential criminal complaint against FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Switzerland.
As the governing body for European football, Uefa is at the forefront of an uprising against Infantino, who is facing increasing pressure to resign.
In his statement, Kushner observed, “Historically, money in football has been concentrated within a select group of countries.” He elaborated on the vision behind the Football for Everyone (FFE) initiative, which aimed to distribute capital and equity more equitably among all 211 member nations. The goal was to funnel greater investment into underdeveloped areas, fostering local talent, bolstering grassroots football, enhancing the fan experience, and ultimately expanding the global game.
“This was an initiative meant to undergo a vote by every member association, not a mandate,” he emphasized.
Despite their strong commitment to FFE’s principles, Kushner conceded, “We underestimated the intricate political landscape of global football and the lengths to which some parties would go. Thrive has a longstanding record of collaboration with all stakeholders, and had we anticipated the turmoil this would incite, we would have reconsidered our involvement.”
In addition to this, Uefa’s legal team has filed paperwork requesting disclosure of documents from two FIFA-affiliated businesses located in the U.S., along with insights from American financier Greg Maffei, identified as a significant advisor in the ongoing deal.
While Uefa has clarified that neither Kushner nor Maffei are expected to face legal action, their court filing claims that Infantino, “unilaterally designated Thrive Eternal…to lead the investor group.”
The submission further contends that the valuation of the World Cup was purposely set low at around £15 billion—an amount it insists resulted neither from an open, competitive auction nor an assessment by an independent evaluator. Uefa’s lawyers also argue that Infantino neglected to consult with FIFA’s upper echelons regarding this plan.
In a noteworthy development, Kushner has recently reached an agreement to purchase the Los Angeles Lakers, a deal reportedly worth a staggering $12.5 billion (£9.3 billion).
