The pressure on Gianni Infantino to resign as FIFA president has grown after it emerged UEFA paid off his alleged mistress during his time with the European governing body.
The Telegraph reported the woman received a six-figure sum following an alleged affair with Infantino when he was UEFA general secretary.
It is claimed the junior employee was promoted by Infantino and given a 30 per cent pay rise at the time of their relationship. UEFA’s then president, Michel Platini, was reportedly aware and raised concerns with Infantino.
The organisation decided she would depart her role with a substantial sum, paid for by UEFA, which also covered the costs for her to do an MBA course at a business school worth £45,000 per year.
UEFA confirmed the payment and its awareness of the relationship between Infantino and the woman in a statement to The Telegraph.
Infantino has been married to Leena Al Ashqar since 2001 and the couple have four daughters.
UEFA paid off a female employee who had an alleged affair with Gianni Infantino during his time at the organisation
Infantino is under pressure to quit following his failed FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme
‘We are aware of the allegations and can confirm a departure payment was made to the individual in question, coupled with the payment of fees for an MBA course at a local business school,’ UEFA said. ‘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.’
The Telegraph also reported there had been complaints about Infantino’s behaviour at FIFA, claims strenuously denied by football’s worldwide governing body.
Infantino became UEFA secretary general – a position second only to the presidency in terms of power – in 2009. He started in 2000 as a lawyer before working his way up in the organisation.
The now 56-year-old was elected FIFA president in 2016 following the downfall of Sepp Blatter. He was re-elected in 2019 and 2023, and had been expected to secure a fourth term in March.
The revelations cast further doubt on Infantino’s position at FIFA with the Swiss-Italian facing widespread calls to quit after he was forced to abandon a widely condemned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
UEFA are leading the charge to dethrone Infantino as FIFA president in response to the scrapped proposal, pledging to boycott any FIFA tournaments so long as he remains in the role.
But he appears to retain support from Africa, South America and Asia – which is enough to fend off any leadership challenge ahead of the election, scheduled to take place at the FIFA congress in Morocco in March.
Mexico this week broke ranks from CONCACAF’s opposition to Infantino, reaffirming their confidence in the FIFA leadership.
UEFA’s current refusal to play in FIFA competitions will cause the governing body significant commercial problems, potentially prompting Infantino to reconsider his position at the top of world football.
But the FIFA president has shown no sign of relenting thus far after being supported by the governing body’s hierarchy following crisis talks on Wednesday, vowing to fight on despite demands he resign.
Infantino is facing a possible investigation after Norwegian FA president Lise Klaveness said she would report him to FIFA’s Ethics Committee.
The complaint will not only challenge the proposed sale of a £3.1billion stake in the World Cup to private investors, but also the decision to award an ad hoc FIFA Peace Prize to President Donald Trump and the suspension of Folarin Balogun’s red card at the World Cup following alleged political pressure from Trump.
