Key facts
- FIFA stated there is a "concerted and ongoing effort" to undermine its president, Gianni Infantino.
- The accusations follow claims that UEFA paid a six-figure sum to a woman allegedly involved with Infantino.
- UEFA confirmed a payment was made to the woman, citing it was in line with regulations.
- Infantino denies the allegations, calling them "categorically untrue."
- FIFA defended Infantino's "democratic mandate" and his 30 years of service to football.
- Despite calls to resign, Infantino shows no signs of stepping down.
FIFA has accused critics of a "concerted and ongoing effort" to undermine its president, Gianni Infantino, amid claims that UEFA paid off an alleged mistress while he led European football's governing body.
According to reports, a woman received a six-figure sum after an alleged relationship with Infantino. UEFA stated that a "departure payment" was made to the woman, along with fees for an MBA course, which it said was "in line" with regulations at the time. FIFA, while not directly referencing UEFA's statement, accused Infantino's critics of attempting to weaken his authority and remove him from his role without a democratic re-election process.
FIFA defended Infantino against what it called "unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims," highlighting his more than 30 years of professional life dedicated to football. The governing body stated that disagreement with changes cannot justify efforts to undermine the president's democratic mandate or the institution itself.
A FIFA spokesman told Sky News that Infantino "strongly denies these allegations, and they are categorically untrue," adding that any insinuation of inappropriate conduct is defamatory. Infantino worked at UEFA from 2000 to 2016 before becoming FIFA's president.
Infantino is also facing calls to resign over a controversial plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors, a proposal that had previously caused a rift between football's governing bodies. Despite this, UEFA has indicated it is prepared to boycott future FIFA tournaments due to a loss of confidence in Infantino. The English FA has reportedly withdrawn support for his re-election, and Norway's football federation has asked him to resign. Conversely, Mexico, Argentina, Qatar, Egypt, and Morocco have publicly backed Infantino.