Gianni Infantino Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Affair and Uefa Payment
Gianni Infantino faces fresh scrutiny over his past at Uefa after a report claimed a woman alleged to have had an affair with him received a severance payment while he was the organisation’s general secretary.
According to an investigation by the Daily Telegraph, Uefa made a six-figure “departure payment” to the woman, who is said to have been in a relationship with Infantino during his time at European football’s governing body. Infantino, who is married, was Uefa general secretary from 2009 to 2016 before becoming Fifa president.
His camp has pushed back hard.
A spokesman for Infantino was quoted as saying he “strongly denies these categorically untrue allegations”. Fifa reiterated that stance to the Telegraph, calling any suggestion of improper behaviour “defamatory” and insisting there had been no breach of statutes or regulations.
“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,” a Fifa spokesman told the paper, adding that “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.”
Uefa, however, has confirmed that a payment was made to the woman in question. In a statement, it said the money included fees for her to complete an MBA course at a local business school. The governing body stressed that all payments complied with the rules in place at the time, while noting that those regulations have since been tightened to “reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organisation”.
The revelations land at a delicate moment for Infantino. His presidency is already under pressure after his heavily criticised attempt to explore selling stakes in the World Cup to private investors, a move that triggered resistance across the game and forced him to pull back.
Now, as questions grow over how Uefa handled the departure of a former employee linked to him, the man at the top of world football finds his past and present converging in a way that will not be easily brushed aside. BBC Sport has contacted Fifa and Infantino for further comment.
