FIFA president Gianni Infantino has vigorously rejected accusations that UEFA authorised a severance payment to a female employee during his time as the body’s general secretary, insisting that no such payment was ever made.
UEFA has acknowledged that a departure payment was issued to the employee, together with fees covering an MBA programme, and said the transactions were conducted in line with existing regulations.
The allegations were first published by The Daily Telegraph, which suggested the employee had been involved in a personal relationship with Infantino while he was leading UEFA, a claim that has added a layer of scrutiny to the financial arrangements.
Infantino maintains that no complaint was ever raised by any staff member at UEFA or FIFA concerning his conduct, and he has characterised the reports as unfounded.
Political Repercussions
The controversy has sparked a political fallout, with the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) issuing a public demand for Infantino’s immediate resignation, while UEFA’s confidence in him appears to be eroding, prompting threats of a World Cup boycott.
Football associations in Mexico and Argentina have come out in support of Infantino, whereas CONMEBOL has voiced concern over unilateral actions taken without broader dialogue.
With nominations for a fourth term due by 18 November, Infantino remains the sole declared candidate, even as the scandal follows his unsuccessful push to sell stakes in FIFA’s competitions to private investors.