FIFA President Gianni Infantino has strongly denied allegations that UEFA made a six-figure payment to a former female staff member following an alleged relationship between them during his time as the organisation’s general secretary.
The allegations were reported by The Telegraph, which claimed that UEFA funded the woman’s MBA studies at a business school after she left the organisation.
Infantino worked at UEFA from 2000 until 2016, when he became FIFA president. Reports alleged that the woman received favourable treatment during the period of their purported relationship.
UEFA confirmed that a payment was made but said it complied with the employment regulations applicable to departing staff at the time.
The organisation added that its staff regulations have since been strengthened and now apply uniformly to all employees.
However, a FIFA spokesperson said Infantino “strongly denies” the allegations, describing them as completely false and defamatory.
The spokesperson also rejected claims that UEFA or FIFA officials had previously raised concerns about Infantino’s conduct, saying no formal complaint had ever been lodged against him.
The controversy comes amid renewed scrutiny of Infantino’s leadership of FIFA, including his previously proposed plan to establish a subsidiary to manage the commercial aspects of football and offer up to 20 percent ownership to private equity investors.
The proposal was eventually abandoned following strong opposition from FIFA member associations, including threats of a potential boycott.
