Infantino refutes allegations of Uefa hush money to former employee
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has denied allegations that Uefa made a six-figure payment to a female employee who was reportedly in a relationship with him during his tenure as general secretary. Uefa confirmed a departure payment was made but did not comment on the nature of the relationship. Infantino and Fifa have called the claims categorically untrue.
Uefa acknowledged a financial settlement for the departing employee, covering both a lump sum and business school tuition, stating it complied with the rules in force at the time, which have since been made stricter. The organization emphasized that current staff regulations reflect modern standards.
These accusations surface while Infantino faces separate backlash over his proposal to sell stakes in a company managing World Cup tournaments. That plan was blocked by European and other confederations, and Uefa's boycott threat remains active despite his recent apology.
The allegations could further erode public trust in football's leadership, potentially affecting the credibility of decisions made by Fifa and Uefa. Fans and member associations may face prolonged uncertainty as institutional conflicts intensify, while the focus on personal conduct might overshadow broader governance reforms. The ongoing dispute over competition financing could also destabilize the sport's commercial landscape, impacting stakeholders from broadcasters to grassroots clubs.