FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing fresh scrutiny over allegations dating to his time at UEFA, where he worked from 2000 until his election as FIFA President in 2016.
The controversy followed a Daily Telegraph investigation alleging that a former UEFA employee received favorable treatment during a personal relationship with Infantino and later received a departure payment of more than £150,000.
UEFA has confirmed that a departure payment and MBA course fees were provided to the former employee and said the arrangement complied with staff regulations in force at the time. FIFA has strongly rejected allegations of inappropriate conduct involving Infantino.
UEFA payment allegations bring fresh scrutiny
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing fresh scrutiny after The Telegraph reported that a former UEFA employee received a departure package worth more than £150,000 during his tenure as UEFA general secretary.
The newspaper reported that the employee had been promoted from an administrative position to a management role and received a pay rise of about £25,000. UEFA separately confirmed that a departure payment was made and that it also covered fees for an MBA course at a local business school.
UEFA said the departure payment complied with the regulations in force at the time. It added that those regulations have been tightened since 2016 and that current staff rules apply across all employee levels.
The Telegraph’s explosive report details
The Telegraph broke the story after speaking with several unnamed sources close to the matter. The paper claimed Infantino had a personal relationship with a junior colleague while serving as general secretary of European football.
According to the report, the woman was promoted from an administrative post into a management role during the alleged relationship. She reportedly received a pay rise worth roughly £25,000 before her exit.
The newspaper says she left UEFA abruptly at the end of 2011 and received the disputed payment shortly afterward. The publication chose not to publicly name the woman at the center of these serious allegations.
UEFA confirms payment and cites staff rules
UEFA confirmed that a departure payment was made to the former employee and that fees for an MBA course at a local business school were also covered.
The organization said the departure payment complied with the regulations that applied to departing staff at the time. UEFA added that its rules have been tightened since 2016 and that current regulations apply to employees at every level.
UEFA did not confirm the allegation of a personal relationship between Infantino and the employee. FIFA separately said Infantino strongly denies the allegations and rejects any suggestion of inappropriate conduct or regulatory violations.
FIFA issues a strong denial on Infantino’s behalf
A FIFA spokesperson said Infantino strongly denied the allegations and described them as categorically untrue. FIFA also said any suggestion of inappropriate conduct or a breach of statutes or regulations was defamatory.
The spokesperson said no employee at UEFA or FIFA had ever raised a complaint regarding Infantino’s behavior. FIFA also said that employee departures and severance packages had been approved by the appropriate directors in accordance with applicable regulations.
Infantino spent 16 years at UEFA
Infantino joined UEFA in 2000 and became the organization’s general secretary in October 2009. He remained in that role until he was elected FIFA President on February 26, 2016.
The Telegraph alleges that the relationship involving the former employee occurred while Infantino was UEFA general secretary. Infantino and FIFA strongly deny the allegations.
The newspaper has also reported that senior UEFA figures are considering whether to investigate Infantino’s conduct across his full 16-year career at the organization. As of August 12, UEFA has not publicly announced that such a formal investigation has been opened.
FIFA and UEFA relations turn openly hostile
The allegations emerged during a much wider leadership crisis at FIFA following the collapse of Infantino’s FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which sought private investment in commercial rights connected to major FIFA competitions.
On August 10, UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and Concacaf jointly accused Infantino of a fundamental breach of trust over the proposal and called for a fully independent review. The 3 confederations have also threatened to boycott FIFA competitions unless they receive guarantees that similar plans will not return.
The personal allegations concerning Infantino’s UEFA years are separate from that commercial dispute, but their emergence has added another source of scrutiny while his leadership faces unprecedented opposition from major football bodies.
Fun fact: UEFA has been based in Nyon, Switzerland, since the mid-1990s, with its House of European Football headquarters opening in 1999.
What happens next for Infantino
UEFA has reportedly confirmed it may launch a formal investigation covering the entirety of Infantino’s time at the organization, not just this incident. Such a probe could uncover further uncomfortable details about his leadership record.
Infantino’s allies insist he will weather this storm just as he has survived previous controversies during his lengthy football career. However, the combination of scandals happening all at once makes this situation notably more difficult.
Legal experts suggest the situation could escalate quickly if UEFA formally opens an investigation and uncovers further evidence contradicting Infantino’s public denials. Any confirmed wrongdoing could have very serious lasting consequences for his FIFA presidency.
Little-known fact: Giovanni Vincenzo ‘Gianni’ Infantino was elected FIFA President on 26 February 2016 and has since been re-elected unopposed twice, by acclamation in Paris (2019) and Kigali (2023).
Why this scandal matters for football
This controversy highlights ongoing concerns about accountability and oversight within international football governance at the very highest levels of power. Fans deserve full transparency from the people entrusted with running the world’s most popular sport.
Beyond the headlines, this story raises much bigger questions about workplace conduct and power dynamics within major sporting organizations worldwide. It serves as a clear reminder that even powerful figures face scrutiny for past actions.
As investigations potentially continue, football fans worldwide will be watching closely to see exactly how this entire situation develops for Infantino. The final outcome could shape public perceptions of FIFA leadership for years to come.
TL;DR
- The Telegraph reported that a former UEFA employee received a departure package worth more than £150,000.
- UEFA confirmed that a departure payment and MBA course fees were provided, but did not publicly confirm the reported £150,000-plus amount.
- The Telegraph alleged that Infantino had a personal relationship with the employee and reported that she received a promotion and a pay rise of about £25,000.
- A FIFA spokesperson said Infantino strongly denies the allegations and called any suggestion of inappropriate conduct or regulatory violations defamatory.
- UEFA figures are reportedly considering a wider investigation into Infantino’s 16 years at the organization.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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