FIFA President Gianni Infantino is strongly denying allegations that inappropriate conduct was connected to a six-figure departure payment made to a female UEFA employee during his time as the organization’s general secretary.
The allegations stem from a report concerning a woman who worked at UEFA while Infantino served as general secretary from 2009 to 2016. According to reports, UEFA made a substantial departure payment to the employee after she left the organization and also covered fees associated with an MBA course.
UEFA has confirmed that a departure payment was made to the woman. The organization said the payment was consistent with the staff regulations in place at the time, while acknowledging that its rules have since been strengthened.
Reports have linked the payment to allegations of an inappropriate relationship between Infantino and the former employee. However, FIFA has categorically rejected those allegations, with a spokesperson describing them as untrue and defamatory. FIFA also said that no employee had ever filed a complaint concerning Infantino’s behavior.
Infantino has maintained that he did not engage in inappropriate conduct or violate UEFA rules. His representatives have also emphasized that employment-related payments and severance arrangements were approved through the appropriate organizational processes.
The controversy comes as Infantino faces renewed scrutiny over his leadership of world football’s governing body. The allegations add another layer to the pressure surrounding his tenure and could fuel further debate about transparency, governance and accountability within football’s international institutions.
The payment itself does not establish that misconduct occurred, and the allegations remain disputed. UEFA’s confirmation of the departure payment and FIFA’s denial of the allegations represent two separate aspects of the controversy.
The story is likely to remain under scrutiny as questions continue about the circumstances surrounding the payment, the organization’s policies at the time and the claims made about Infantino’s conduct.
For now, Infantino firmly denies the allegations, while UEFA has acknowledged the payment and said its internal regulations have since been tightened.
