Gianni Infantino has rejected allegations that UEFA paid off a woman with whom he was reportedly involved while serving as the organisation’s general secretary. FIFA called the accusations “categorically untrue.”
UEFA has acknowledged making a “departure payment” to a former female employee, but stopped short of confirming any connection between the payment and Infantino.
The organisation described the payment as part of a routine settlement process and did not provide further details about its nature or timing.
The claim, which surfaced in media reports, suggested the payment was made to silence or compensate the woman over an alleged relationship with Infantino.
FIFA swiftly defended its president, denying the reports and urging that the matter not be treated as fact without evidence.
Both UEFA and FIFA have faced intense scrutiny in recent years over governance and transparency. This latest dispute adds to ongoing tensions between European football’s governing body and FIFA, and raises fresh questions about internal procedures for staff departures and how such payments are disclosed.
As of now, neither UEFA nor independent investigators have released documents proving the payment was linked to Infantino, and he continues to refute the allegations.
The Daily Telegraph reported on Friday night, August 7, 2026, that the woman received a six-figure sum following the alleged relationship with Infantino, the BBC report stated.
In a statement, Uefa confirmed a payment was made along with covering the fees for an MBA course, which it said was “in line” with regulations at the time.
However, Fifa has responded to the reports. “Fifa president Gianni Infantino strongly denies these allegations, and they are categorically untrue. Any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes or regulations is defamatory,” a Fifa spokesman told the Telegraph.
“No employee at Uefa and Fifa has ever raised a complaint regarding Mr Infantino’s behaviour because there never was an incident where he was involved.”
The report comes as pressure mounts on Infantino following his plan to seek private investment in a company, which would run Fifa’s competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups.
Infantino worked at Uefa for 16 years and was its general secretary from 2009 before being elected as Fifa president in February 2016.
A Uefa spokesperson said: “We are aware of the allegations and can confirm a departure payment was made to the individual in question, coupled with the payment of fees for a MBA course at a local business school.”
The payment was in line with the regulations that existed for departing staff at the time. “Such regulations have been tightened since 2016 and the current staff regulations – which apply to all Uefa employees at whatever level – reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organisation.”
Infantino has found himself at the centre of a storm for two weeks following his controversial plan to sell stakes to private investors in a company to run the World Cup.
The plan was rejected by Uefa and two other continental confederations. On Wednesday, Infantino was backed by Fifa’s management board following a meeting in Morocco and issued an apology over the process.
Uefa’s threat for its 55 member countries to boycott Fifa competitions until the plan was scrapped remains, with the European confederation saying on Thursday that Wednesday’s announcement “changes nothing”.
0 comments:
Post a Comment