UEFA has confirmed that it made a departure payment and covered MBA fees for a former female employee who was alleged to have had a relationship with Gianni Infantino during his time as the European football body’s general secretary.
The confirmation follows a report by The Telegraph which alleged that the employee received a six-figure sum after leaving UEFA and that the organisation also funded her business-school studies.
The report linked the payment to an alleged relationship with Infantino, who headed UEFA’s administration from 2009 to 2016 before becoming FIFA president.
UEFA, however, did not confirm the alleged relationship or suggest that the payment was made because of Infantino.
A UEFA spokesperson told ITV News that a departure payment was made to the individual and that fees for an MBA course at a local business school were also covered.
“The payment was in line with the regulations that existed for departing staff at the time,” the spokesperson said.
UEFA added that its staff rules had since been strengthened.
“Such regulations have been tightened since 2016,” the governing body said, stressing that its current regulations apply to employees at every level.
FIFA has strongly rejected the allegations concerning Infantino.
A FIFA spokesperson told The Telegraph that the FIFA president “strongly denies” the allegations and described them as “categorically untrue”.
FIFA also said no employee at UEFA or FIFA had ever lodged a complaint concerning Infantino’s behaviour.
The governing body added that employment decisions, including departure and severance arrangements, were approved by the appropriate directors under applicable regulations.
The controversy comes as Infantino faces mounting pressure over his leadership of world football.
His position was already under scrutiny following a controversial proposal to introduce private investment into a commercial entity that would operate FIFA competitions, including the World Cup.
UEFA and all 55 of its member associations rejected the proposal, with the European body announcing that its national teams would not participate in FIFA competitions while the plan remained in place.
FIFA later abandoned the investment proposal after widespread opposition. UEFA, however, has maintained that the episode exposed serious concerns about transparency and decision-making within FIFA.
The dispute has also complicated Infantino’s bid for another term as FIFA president. The election is scheduled for March 2027, with several football associations having withdrawn previous support or declined to endorse him.
Finland and Wales have withdrawn their backing, while Serbia has also reversed its earlier position. Germany, meanwhile, confirmed that it would not issue a letter supporting Infantino.
Infantino became FIFA president in 2016 after serving as UEFA general secretary from 2009 to 2016.
He remains in office and is expected to continue seeking re-election despite the growing opposition.
The latest allegations have consequently added another pressure point for the FIFA president, bringing renewed attention to his conduct during his UEFA years at a time when questions over governance, transparency and leadership are already dominating the debate around his future.
