UEFA confirms payout to former employee under Infantino, amid denials of affair
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has confirmed a “departure payment” was made to a former employee during Gianni Infantino’s tenure as general secretary. This confirmation comes amidst reports alleging inappropriate conduct, which FIFA, the world governing body for football, has strongly denied.
Reports from a British newspaper initially suggested that the woman received a six-figure sum due to an alleged affair with Infantino. FIFA has dismissed these allegations as “categorically untrue,” with a spokesperson stating that any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes is defamatory.
Details of the Payment and Regulations
UEFA clarified that the payment to the individual included fees for an MBA course at a local business school. The organization maintained that this payment was in line with the regulations for departing staff that were in place at the time. However, UEFA also noted that these internal regulations have since been “tightened” following 2016.
The current staff regulations, which apply to all UEFA employees regardless of their level, are now designed to reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organization. The woman involved was not named in the initial report.
The allegations surfaced after a British newspaper published an article claiming that UEFA had paid off an alleged mistress of Gianni Infantino while he served as general secretary from 2009 to 2016. Citing multiple anonymous sources, the report suggested that Infantino had a relationship with a junior employee who was subsequently promoted to a “more lucrative managerial role” before receiving a payment upon her departure.
FIFA’s Response and Broader Context
FIFA has issued a statement condemning what it describes as a “concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its president.” The organization asserted that those without the support of FIFA’s member associations should not attempt to achieve their goals through “allegation, insinuation or misinformation.”
The governing body emphasized its commitment to its 211 member associations and to global football. FIFA stated that it welcomes legitimate scrutiny but views any inaccurate or misleading reporting as a distraction from its progress. The organization pledged to challenge such reporting directly and vigorously.
This situation adds to the pressure on Infantino, which intensified after the recent exposure and subsequent collapse of his plans to sell partial commercial and operational rights to the World Cup. These plans, which were leaked two weeks ago, involved seeking private investment for a company that would manage FIFA’s competitions, including both the men’s and women’s World Cups.
Reactions from Football Bodies
UEFA, which includes some of the most influential football nations, has threatened to boycott FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. This threat persists even after the sell-off plans were abandoned, with UEFA demanding assurances that similar situations will not recur. A boycott by UEFA’s 55 member countries could significantly devalue any World Cup, as six of the current top 10 teams in both men’s and women’s football would not participate.
The players’ union, FIFPRO, has also expressed that its confidence in FIFA’s leadership has been “fundamentally broken.” In contrast, the Confederation of African Football has backed Infantino, largely due to its reliance on financial distributions from FIFA.
CONMEBOL, the South American football confederation, which had opposed the sell-off plans, has stated it will not support an extraordinary congress to vote on Infantino’s future. Instead, CONMEBOL will adhere to the existing timeline for the presidential election, which is scheduled for early next year.
Source: cnn.com
