Sources: UEFA prepares criminal complaint against FIFA's Infantino over World Cup sell-off - ESPN

UEFA is preparing a criminal complaint against FIFA president Gianni Infantino in the Swiss courts for alleged financial mismanagement over his failed $20 billion plan to sell a stake in the World Cup, sources told ESPN.

Infantino is facing accusations of «fraudulently» offering the stake in FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) without due process and consultation with the FIFA hierarchy.

UEFA, European soccer's governing body, said Thursday it had filed documents in a Manhattan court requesting discovery of potential evidence from the New York investment fund Thrive Capital Management, founded by Joshua Kushner.

Thrive and Kushner were 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.

ESPN has seen the 60-page document outlining UEFA's position and requests for information, which was handed to FIFA at its North America headquarters at Coral Gables, Florida, and to Thrive and JP Morgan in New York.

Financier Greg Maffei, CEO of BANN Ventures, has also been handed the document at his base in Denver.

All of the above have been ordered to provide all documentation and communication relating to the controversial FFE sell-off plan. UEFA is now considering criminal proceedings in Switzerland — FIFA's main headquarters is in Nyon, Switzerland — following a review of available evidence.

«UEFA and its counsel are contemplating a Swiss criminal proceeding against Infantino and possibly other FIFA officials for criminal mismanagement under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code,» UEFA's lawyers state in the 60-page document.

The document suggests the $4.2 billion figure could be a «fraudulently off-market price promoted