Gianni Infantino Under Scrutiny Over Alleged Relationship and Uefa Payment

Gianni Infantino faces fresh scrutiny after a report claimed that an alleged lover received a severance payment from Uefa during his time as the organisation’s general secretary.

According to an investigation by the Daily Telegraph, Uefa paid a six-figure sum to a woman who is said to have had a relationship with Infantino while he worked at European football’s governing body. Infantino, who has been married throughout that period, “strongly denies these categorically untrue allegations”, a spokesman for the Fifa president was quoted as saying.

Uefa, where Infantino served as general secretary from 2009 to 2016, has confirmed that a payment was made to the woman. In a statement, the organisation said the departure package covered fees for her to complete an MBA course at a local business school and stressed that all payments were made in line with regulations in force at the time.

Those rules, Uefa added, have since been tightened and now “reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organisation”.

The timing is uncomfortable for Infantino. He is already battling to protect his position as Fifa president after the backlash to his abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. The latest allegations add another layer of pressure at the top of the global game.

Fifa and Infantino have been contacted by BBC Sport for comment.

In comments to the Telegraph, a Fifa spokesman issued a firm rejection of any wrongdoing: “Fifa president Gianni Infantino strongly denies these allegations, and they are categorically untrue. Any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes or regulations is defamatory.”

The spokesman also insisted there had never been internal concerns raised about Infantino’s conduct. “No employee at Uefa and Fifa has ever raised a complaint regarding Mr Infantino’s behaviour because there never was an incident where he was involved,” he said.

Uefa, for its part, is standing by the legality of the payment, while pointing to a new era of stricter internal controls. The question now is whether that will be enough to steady Infantino’s grip on power as the storm around him gathers pace.