FIFA has issued a statement defending its president, Gianni Infantino, against what the governing body described as a concerted and continuous effort to undermine his leadership. The announcement came one day after British newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported on a severance payment made by European soccer governing body UEFA to a female employee who worked with Infantino during his time as secretary general.
According to the British report, Infantino promoted the woman from a junior role to a managerial position during his tenure at UEFA from 2000 to 2016, while maintaining a relationship with her. The report alleged that he later ensured she received a substantial financial package when she left the organisation.
Sources cited by The Telegraph indicated that then UEFA president Michel Platini confronted Infantino at the time over the alleged romance. The employee subsequently agreed to resign in exchange for a payout of at least six figures, as well as annual tuition for a master of business administration degree costing 45,000 British pounds, or 52,519 euros.
UEFA confirmed that a severance payment was made to the former employee and stated that the settlement was in line with regulations in force at the time. Infantino worked at UEFA for 16 years before his election as president of FIFA.
FIFA accusations of destabilisation campaign
In its statement released on Saturday, FIFA accused Infantino's critics of attempting to weaken his authority and remove him from office without due process. The organisation stated that a concerted and constant effort is underway by certain parties to undermine FIFA and its president.
FIFA added that individuals who lack the support of member federations should not attempt to achieve through allegations, insinuations, or disinformation what they cannot accomplish through established democratic processes. The organisation also stated that several news reports contained unfounded assertions and manifestly false allegations that should not be presented as facts.
The governing body emphasized that structural change inevitably presents a challenge to established interests. However, FIFA maintained that disagreement with such changes cannot justify efforts to undermine the democratic mandate of its elected president or the institution he leads.
World Cup private equity dispute
The dispute occurs amid broader pressure on Infantino following intense backlash over his plan to sell World Cup profits to private equity funds. UEFA rejected the commercial proposal alongside CONCACAF, the governing body for North America, and the Asian Football Confederation.
Following a meeting in Morocco last Wednesday, Infantino secured backing from the FIFA board and offered an apology for the situation. Despite the apology, UEFA maintained its threat that its 55 member nations would boycott FIFA competitions until the plan is permanently abandoned, declaring on Thursday that the announcement changes nothing.
Addressing the historical employment agreement, UEFA confirmed that while the severance payment complied with rules for departing staff at the time, governance procedures have been tightened since 2016. UEFA stated that its current policies now reflect the standards of a modern and highly prestigious organisation.
