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The woman, a junior employee, allegedly received a promotion during the reported relationship and later received a severance package after leaving UEFA.
Gianni Infantino has refused to resign in wake of the controversy. (AP Photo)
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing fresh scrutiny after a report alleged that UEFA paid a six-figure sum and funded an MBA course for a former junior employee who was allegedly in a relationship with him during his time as the European football body’s general secretary.
According to The Telegraph, the woman allegedly received a promotion during the reported relationship and later received a severance package after leaving UEFA. The report said the payment was made during Infantino’s tenure at UEFA, where he served as general secretary before becoming FIFA president in 2016.
UEFA has confirmed that a departure payment and MBA funding were provided to the individual but said the arrangements followed the regulations in place at the time.
UEFA Confirms Payment, Says Rules Were Followed
Speaking to Sky Sports News, UEFA said it was aware of the allegations and confirmed that “a departure payment was made to the individual in question, coupled with the payment of fees for a MBA course at a local business school.”
The European football governing body said the payment complied with the staff rules that existed at the time and added that those regulations had since been strengthened.
“The payment was in line with the regulations that existed for departing staff at the time. Such regulations have been tightened since 2016 and the current staff regulations – which apply to all UEFA employees at whatever level – reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organisation,” UEFA said.
Infantino, who worked at UEFA from 2000 until leaving for FIFA in 2016, has denied all allegations.
Infantino Denies Claims, Calls Them ‘Defamatory’
A FIFA spokesperson told The Telegraph that Infantino “strongly denies these allegations” and described them as “categorically untrue”.
“Any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes or regulations is defamatory,” the spokesperson said.
FIFA also said no employee at UEFA or FIFA had ever filed a complaint against Infantino, adding that all employee-related decisions, including severance packages, were approved by the appropriate directors and followed applicable rules.
“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. All company actions related to employees, including any departure and severance packages, have always been approved by the appropriate directors in accordance with all applicable regulations,” it added.
Claims Emerge Amid FIFA Pressure
The reports come as Infantino faces wider criticism over FIFA’s now-shelved private investment plan, which involved a proposed commercial subsidiary that FIFA said could raise up to $4.2 billion.
The plan faced opposition from UEFA, which criticised FIFA’s leadership approach and threatened a potential World Cup boycott before the proposal was withdrawn.
The controversy has also led to calls for Infantino to resign.
However, Infantino has continued to receive support from several football bodies, including the Confederation of African Football and federations in South America. He is expected to seek a fourth and final term as FIFA president at elections scheduled for next year.
(With inputs from agencies)
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August 08, 2026, 04:15 IST
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