FIFA has formally defended its president, Gianni Infantino, following reports of alleged favoritism and financial irregularities dating back to his tenure as general secretary of UEFA. The governing body for world football characterized recent media reports as part of a “concerted and continuous effort” to undermine its leadership and weaken the organization from within. The controversy centers on an exit payment made by UEFA to a former employee who reportedly had a personal relationship with Infantino during his 16-year career at the European confederation.
The defense follows an article published by the British newspaper The Telegraph, which investigated a six-figure severance package awarded by UEFA to a staff member who worked closely with Infantino. The report alleged that the employee received the payment upon her departure and that she had been promoted during the period of their alleged relationship. In response, UEFA confirmed that the exit payment was “in line with the regulations in force at the time for employees leaving the organization.” UEFA officials added that their internal rules were significantly tightened in 2016 to reflect standards consistent with a modern, high-profile institution.
According to reporting from Euronews, senior figures within UEFA are currently considering an internal investigation into the period of Infantino’s tenure. The objective of such a probe would be to audit financial disbursements from that era and determine whether the alleged personal relationship influenced any administrative or personnel decisions. Infantino, who served as UEFA secretary general before his election to the FIFA presidency, has faced increasing scrutiny as his former organization distances itself from his past practices.
FIFA’s Response to Allegations
In a formal statement released on Saturday, FIFA rejected the allegations as a campaign of disinformation. The organization asserted that those who lack the support of FIFA’s member associations are attempting to achieve through “allegation, insinuation or disinformation” what they have failed to secure through established democratic processes. The statement emphasized that FIFA is undergoing a period of change that inevitably challenges entrenched interests, but maintained that such disagreement does not justify attempts to destabilize the institution or its leadership.
FIFA further stated that some recent media reports contain “unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims,” which it argued should not be presented as factual. The organization reiterated its support for Infantino, framing the recent criticism as an attack on his democratic mandate. This public pushback comes at a time when Infantino is navigating significant friction with several continental confederations regarding the future financial structure of the World Cup.
Conflict Over World Cup Profits
The current tension between FIFA and UEFA is compounded by disputes over Infantino’s proposal to redirect World Cup profits toward private equity investment funds. The project has met with resistance from UEFA, the CONCACAF (North America), and the Asian Football Confederation, all of which have formally rejected the plan. Despite this opposition, Infantino secured support for the initiative from the FIFA executive committee during a meeting held in Morocco.
The situation remains volatile, with UEFA maintaining its stance that the proposed financial model is unacceptable. Reports indicate that UEFA has threatened to lead a boycott of FIFA competitions by its 55 member nations if the project is not abandoned. When asked about the potential for compromise following the recent FIFA committee meeting, UEFA officials stated that the ongoing developments regarding the investigation into Infantino’s past “do not change anything” regarding their opposition to the investment plan.
As of this week, no official timeline has been set for the potential UEFA investigation into the historical payments, and FIFA has not indicated any further formal legal action beyond its public statement. The organization continues to manage the fallout from the conflicting reports while preparing for upcoming governance meetings.