• FIFA President Gianni Infantino denies allegations of misconduct involving a former UEFA employee.
• UEFA confirmed a departure payment was made to the employee but stated it followed existing regulations.
• Infantino faces growing criticism from various football associations, threatening his reelection bid.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has categorically denied allegations suggesting that UEFA funded a severance package for a female employee with whom he allegedly had an affair during his tenure as UEFA general secretary. Infantino's spokesperson called the claims “false and defamatory” and emphasized that no complaints regarding his conduct had ever been raised at UEFA or FIFA. The allegations detail a swift promotion and substantial exit package for the woman, including tuition coverage for an MBA, purportedly financed by UEFA funds meant for grassroots football development, according to India Times and Al Jazeera.

In response to these allegations, UEFA also acknowledged the existence of a “departure payment” made in accordance with the applicable regulations at the time. UEFA clarified that the payment included finance for MBA studies, reinforcing that the actions were compliant with their then-current procedures, as reported by Reuters and Channel News Asia.

The timing of these allegations is particularly precarious for Infantino, who is already facing significant backlash following the collapse of a proposed $4.2 billion sale of FIFA’s competition rights aimed at attracting private investment. This initiative provoked intense criticism from multiple national associations and UEFA, leading to calls for his resignation and a crisis meeting to reaffirm support for his presidency, according to Reuters.

FIFA has since released a statement condemning what it termed a “concerted and ongoing effort” to undermine Infantino’s leadership, asserting that any challenges must adhere to the organization’s statutes and democratic processes. They stated that “unsubstantiated assertions” do not equate to legitimate challenges and that Infantino remains in a strong position with substantial support from numerous member associations, including unwavering backing from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Mexican football federation, as noted by Channel News Asia and Reuters.