FIFA president denies UEFA payment allegation linked to personal relationship during his tenure as UEFA secretary general
Executive summary: Gianni Infantino denied allegations that UEFA paid off a female employee alleged to have been in a relationship with him during his tenure as UEFA general secretary (2009–2016). UEFA confirmed a departure payment was made but did not address the relationship claim. The allegation adds to ongoing governance and ethical concerns surrounding Infantino’s leadership at FIFA, potentially affecting institutional credibility and sponsor confidence amid prior controversies over World Cup commercialization and UEFA-FIFA tensions.
Who is involved: Gianni Infantino (FIFA president), UEFA, and an unnamed female employee formerly associated with UEFA during Infantino’s leadership period.
Likely next: Further statements from UEFA or FIFA on internal governance; possible media investigations into the payment’s justification; no legal action indicated yet.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has denied claims that UEFA made a departure payment to a female employee allegedly involved in a relationship with him during his time as UEFA general secretary from 2009 to 2016. UEFA confirmed a departure payment was made to the employee but did not confirm the nature of the relationship. The denial comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Infantino’s leadership and past controversies involving FIFA governance and commercial decisions.
Timeline
- — The Telegraph afirma que la UEFA pagó a una supuesta amante de Infantino y este lo niega (Expansión)
- — Fifa president Gianni Infantino denies claims Uefa paid off alleged ‘lover’ (The Guardian — Business)
- — Gianni Infantino ‘has lost Uefa’s confidence’ after Fifa chief scraps World Cup sell-off plan (The Guardian — Business)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- UEFA internal review expected by end of August 2026 regarding departure payment disclosures
- FIFA ethics committee may assess claim under governance rules by September 2026
Sectors affected
- Sports governance
- Football administration
- International sports federations
Regulatory implications
- FIFA Code of Ethics may be invoked if relationship created conflict of interest (Article 20: Conflict of Interest)
Historical parallels
- FIFA ethics investigation into Jeffrey Webb (CONCACAF) over bribery and misuse of funds, 2015
- UEFA scrutiny of Michel Platini’s FIFA presidential election payment from Sepp Blatter, 2015
Key entities
Sources
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