FIFA president Gianni Infantino faces growing pressure to resign after UEFA paid off a female employee following an alleged affair during his time at the European governing body. The Telegraph reported that the woman received a six-figure sum after an affair with Infantino while he served as UEFA general secretary.
It is claimed Infantino promoted the junior employee and gave her a 30 per cent pay rise during their relationship. Michel Platini, who was UEFA president at the time, reportedly knew about the situation and raised concerns with Infantino.
The organisation decided the employee would leave her position with a substantial departure payment funded by UEFA. The governing body also covered her fees for an MBA course at a local business school worth £45,000 per year.
UEFA confirmed the payment and its awareness of the relationship in a statement to The Telegraph. "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," UEFA said.
"The payment was in line with the regulations that existed for departing staff at the time," UEFA added. "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."
Infantino has been married to Leena Al Ashqar since 2001, and the couple have four daughters. The Telegraph also reported complaints regarding Infantino's behaviour at FIFA, claims strenuously denied by football's worldwide governing body.
Infantino career background and FIFA tenure
Infantino became UEFA secretary general in 2009, occupying a position second only to the presidency in terms of power. He started at the organisation in 2000 as a lawyer before working his way up.
The 56-year-old was elected FIFA president in 2016 following the downfall of Sepp Blatter. He was re-elected in 2019 and 2023, and had been expected to secure a fourth term in March.
These revelations cast further doubt on Infantino's position at FIFA as he faces widespread calls to quit after being forced to abandon a widely condemned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors through the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme.
Opposition from UEFA and ethics complaint
UEFA is leading the charge to dethrone Infantino as FIFA president in response to the scrapped proposal, pledging to boycott any FIFA tournaments as long as he remains in the role.
However, Infantino appears to retain support from Africa, South America and Asia, which is enough to fend off any leadership challenge ahead of the election at the FIFA congress in Morocco in March. Mexico also broke ranks from CONCACAF opposition this week to reaffirm confidence in the FIFA leadership.
UEFA's current refusal to play in FIFA competitions will cause the governing body significant commercial problems, potentially prompting Infantino to reconsider his position at the top of world football. But Infantino has shown no sign of relenting after receiving support from FIFA hierarchy during crisis talks on Wednesday, vowing to fight on despite demands he resign.
Infantino is also facing a possible investigation after Norwegian FA president Lise Klaveness said she would report him to FIFA's Ethics Committee. The complaint will challenge the proposed sale of a £3.1billion stake in the World Cup to private investors, the decision to award an ad hoc FIFA Peace Prize to President Donald Trump, and the suspension of Folarin Balogun's red card at the World Cup following alleged political pressure from Trump.
