UEFA confirmed on Friday that it made a six-figure departure payment to a former employee who was allegedly involved in a relationship with Gianni Infantino while he served as the organization’s general secretary, according to a report by the Daily Telegraph .
The woman, initially a lower-level staff member, was promoted to a managerial position during the alleged relationship, receiving a 30% salary increase to approximately 160,000 Swiss francs annually, the Telegraph reported, citing anonymous sources within UEFA . UEFA also covered the cost of her MBA course, estimated at 45,000 pounds per year, the statement said .
A FIFA spokesman denied the allegations on behalf of Infantino, calling them “categorically untrue” and “defamatory.” The spokesman added that no complaints about Infantino’s conduct had ever been filed by staff . UEFA stated the payments were made in accordance with regulations in place at the time and that internal rules have since been tightened .
The report follows mounting pressure on Infantino after his proposal to allow private investors to take stakes in a company managing FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, was widely criticized and ultimately abandoned. UEFA and other continental confederations had threatened a boycott of FIFA competitions over the plan .
Infantino, who served as UEFA general secretary from 2009 to 2016 before becoming FIFA president, is currently the sole declared candidate for re-election in March 2027. Victor Montagliani, president of CONCACAF, has been mentioned by international media as a potential rival .
Calls for Infantino’s resignation have emerged from multiple football associations, including Norway’s and Germany’s, amid broader criticism of his leadership .
Follow us for live European news
1 further source not geolocated