FIFA releases emphatic Infantino statement amid affair payoff report
FIFA has doubled down on critics attempting to evict Gianni Infantino as president after what the organisation alleges are “categorically untrue” claims that he had an affair with a colleague emerged.
Infantino denied allegations money intended for grassroots football was instead used to pay off an employee he is accused of having an affair with.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been caught up in a fresh scandal involving an alleged mistress. Getty Images
On Saturday, The Telegraph (UK) reported the woman was paid an undisclosed amount, believed to be in the six figures in British pounds, when she left UEFA.
She had reportedly been in a relationship with Infantino when he was the organisation’s general secretary. UEFA then paid for her to do an MBA at an $85,000-a-year (AUD) business school, before Infantino used his influence to secure her a job elsewhere.
FIFA released a statement saying Infantino “strongly denies” the allegations.
UEFA confirmed the organisation had made the payments and paid for the business degree, but insisted they were in line with regulations at the time, which had now been tightened.
Less than 24 hours later, FIFA declared “it is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its president.”
FIFA added that the organisation and Infantino “are more determined than ever to fulfil” their mission to improve the global game.
“The FIFA president was democratically elected by FIFA’s member associations and continues to serve with their mandate,” the statement read.
“Those who do not have the support of FIFA’s member associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through FIFA’s established democratic processes.
It continued: “Change inevitably challenges established interests, but disagreement with that change cannot justify efforts to undermine the democratic mandate of FIFA’s president or the institution he was elected to lead.
“FIFA welcomes legitimate scrutiny. But scrutiny is not a licence to distort facts, amplify unsubstantiated allegations or manufacture distractions designed to undermine progress.
“Where reporting is inaccurate or misleading, FIFA will challenge it directly and vigorously.”
The allegations come off the back of a torrid week for the FIFA boss. His plan to sell off the commercial rights to the World Cup fell over after world members unanimously agreed to boycott future FIFA events, including the World Cup.
The saga has led to mounting pressure for him to stand down, with Norway’s football federation calling for his resignation to come sooner rather than later.
“When trust is gone, leadership must also be assessed,” Lise Klaveness, the Norwegian football association president who is tipped to takeover from Infantino if he is to leave his role, said in a statement.
“We therefore believe that Gianni Infantino’s time as FIFA president should be over, and ask him to resign.”
Infantino joined UEFA in 2000, and left in February 2016 when he became head of FIFA. He married his wife Leena Al Ashqar, who he has four children with, in 2001.
Both FIFA and UEFA are non-profit organisations, with proceeds intended to be spent on developing the game, including grassroots and junior football, player education, infrastructure programs, and transitioning players into new careers post-retirement.
