FIFA has issued a robust defence of its president, Gianni Infantino, describing recent revelations about his past conduct as part of a “concerted and ongoing effort” to destabilise his leadership. The statement, released on Saturday, comes a day after The Daily Telegraph reported that UEFA paid a six-figure exit package to a female staffer who worked alongside Infantino during his time as general secretary of European football's governing body.
The British newspaper alleges that the woman received the payoff after an alleged romantic relationship with Infantino, and that he may have promoted her during that period. UEFA has confirmed the payment was made but insists it was “in line with the regulations that existed for departing staff at the time.” The organisation added that its rules have been tightened since 2016 and now “reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organisation.”
Senior figures within UEFA are reportedly considering an investigation into Infantino's tenure to establish how the payment was authorised and whether the alleged relationship influenced any decisions. Infantino spent 16 years at UEFA before being elected FIFA president in 2016.
FIFA cries foul over 'misinformation'
In its statement, FIFA accused critics of trying to weaken Infantino's authority and remove him from office without due process. “It is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its president,” the statement read. “Those who do not have the support of FIFA's member associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through FIFA's established democratic processes.”
FIFA also dismissed some of the reporting as containing “unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims,” which should not be presented as fact. The statement went on to say that “change inevitably challenges established interests, but disagreement with that change cannot justify efforts to undermine the democratic mandate of FIFA's president or the institution he was elected to lead.”
The defence comes after a turbulent period for Infantino, who faced intense backlash over his proposal to sell World Cup profits to private equity investors. UEFA, along with the North American confederation CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation, rejected the plan. Infantino apologised for the way the proposal was handled, and FIFA's management board backed him at a meeting in Morocco last Wednesday. However, UEFA's threat to have its 55 member countries boycott FIFA competitions remains, with UEFA saying on Thursday that the apology “changes nothing.”
The latest allegations add to the pressure on Infantino, who has already seen Wales withdraw its support for his re-election. Critics, including former players and officials, have called for him to step down, with Luis Figo urging Infantino to quit, accusing him of “debasing” the presidency. The coming weeks will be crucial as FIFA's member associations decide whether to back their president or seek a change in leadership.
