Gianni Infantino has denied the shocking claim that Uefa paid off his lover with a six-figure sum during his time working at European football’s governing body.
An investigation by The Telegraph revealed that Uefa paid a six-figure sum to the woman, who had an alleged relationship with Infantino, who is married with four children.
Infantino joined Uefa in 2000 and spent 16 years there, including being Uefa general secretary from 2009 to 2016 – during which time the payment is alleged to have been made – before leaving to succeed Sepp Blatter as president of Fifa, football’s global governing body in February 2016.
After she left, Uefa is alleged to have paid for her to do an MBA at a business school.
Uefa has issued a statement confirming that “a departure payment was made to the individual in question” but Infantino – who is under fire for his recently foiled controversial plans to sell off stakes in the World Cup 2026 to private investment – has refuted the claims entirely.
A Fifa spokesperson is reported to have told The Telegraph: “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.
“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.
“All company actions related to employees, including any departure and severance packages, have always been approved by the appropriate directors in accordance with all applicable regulations.”
open image in galleryThe Independent has contacted Fifa for comment.
While Uefa confirmed the severance payment to the woman, and the paying of her business school fees, it said it has since tightened its regulations to “reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organisation”.
A spokesman for Uefa 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 an 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.”
open image in galleryThese allegations only heighten the pressure on Infantino, whose controversial plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investment caused uproar across football.
He was forced to row back on those plans after Uefa threatened to boycott all Fifa tournaments, although Infantino was backed by Fifa’s management board following a crisis meeting in Morocco after which he issued an apology of sorts.
A number of individual football associations have urged Infantino, who is up for re-election as Fifa president in March 2027, to resign, although he has so far indicated he will continue to fight on.