FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing mounting pressure to resign following a report alleging an inappropriate relationship with a UEFA employee during his tenure as secretary general at the organization. The employee reportedly received a six-figure payoff and further financial support after the alleged affair concluded.
The allegations, detailed by The Telegraph, suggest the woman was promoted to a management position during the relationship and that UEFA later paid for her MBA. UEFA confirmed to The Telegraph that a departure payment was made in line with existing regulations at the time, noting that these regulations have since been updated.
Infantino, who worked at UEFA for 16 years before becoming FIFA president in February 2016, has been married with four children since 2001. It is unclear from the report if his wife was aware of the alleged relationship.
According to a source cited by The Telegraph, UEFA's then-president Michel Platini reportedly confronted Infantino about the matter. The report suggests Platini issued an ultimatum, requiring either Infantino or the employee to leave the organization. A payoff was eventually agreed upon for the employee.
FIFA has vehemently denied the allegations. A spokesperson stated that Infantino "strongly denies these allegations, and they are categorically untrue" and that "any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes or regulations is defamatory." The spokesperson added that no employee at UEFA or FIFA has ever filed a complaint regarding Infantino's behavior. All employee-related actions, including severance packages, were reportedly approved by the appropriate directors in accordance with regulations.
The controversy surfaces as Infantino has already faced significant criticism for a proposed plan to privatize the World Cup. This plan was met with widespread opposition, including unanimous boycotts threatened by UEFA and rejections from CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation.
Reports indicate that Infantino has been seeking intervention from the U.S. administration to protect his position. He has reportedly engaged in discussions with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with insiders suggesting the outreach is primarily focused on job preservation, rather than soccer's role as a soft power tool for the United States.