FIFA President Gianni Infantino has issued a strong rebuttal to allegations suggesting he facilitated a significant, confidential financial payout to a former colleague during his tenure as UEFA general secretary. These claims emerged in an investigative report by the British newspaper The Telegraph, which alleged that a former female employee received a six-figure severance payment linked to her relationship with Infantino. Infantino served as UEFA's general secretary from 2009 until 2016 before assuming the presidency of FIFA.
In an official statement released through a FIFA spokesperson, the organization dismissed the allegations as completely false. The statement emphasized that FIFA president Gianni Infantino firmly rejects these claims, labeling any suggestion of unethical behavior or rule violations as defamatory. Furthermore, the statement clarified that no staff member at either UEFA or FIFA has ever filed a complaint regarding Infantino’s professional conduct, noting that he was not involved in any such incidents.
UEFA separately confirmed that a severance payment was indeed made to the individual in question, though the organization specified that the funds were intended to cover tuition fees for an MBA course at a local business school. UEFA maintained that the payment was made in accordance with the regulations in place at the time, although they noted that policies have since been tightened.
The controversy arrives at a challenging time for the 56-year-old FIFA president, who is already facing significant backlash regarding a proposal to sell portions of the World Cup to private investors. While Infantino has apologized for the controversial proposal, he has refused to resign. Despite receiving support from senior executives during a meeting in Morocco, his future remains under scrutiny. While European football associations have threatened to boycott FIFA tournaments, Infantino continues to receive backing from the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), the Confederation of African Football (CAF), as well as the football associations of co-host Mexico and runners-up Argentina. Although the Norwegian Football Association has publicly called for his resignation, the ongoing struggle for power within the organization continues to fuel intense debate across the global football community.