Infantino denies claims Uefa paid off alleged ‘lover’

Gianni Infantino’s presidency faces fresh turmoil after reports that Uefa paid a six-figure severance settlement to a woman alleged to have been his lover while he served as European football’s general secretary between 2009 and 2016. The claim, published by the Daily Telegraph, has intensified pressure on Infantino to resign, coming amid his aborted plan to sell World Cup investment stakes to private equity firms and a growing boycott threat from European federations. The payment—reported to be in the low six figures—was structured as a severance package but exclusively covered tuition fees for an MBA course at a local business school, according to Uefa’s statement to the Telegraph.

What the investigation claims

According to the Telegraph report, Uefa—where Infantino worked from 2000 to 2016—made a six-figure payment to a woman who was allegedly involved with him during his tenure as general secretary. The payment was framed as a severance package but covered the cost of an MBA course at a local business school. Uefa confirmed to the paper that a departure payment was made to the individual in question, stating all transactions complied with regulations at the time. Those rules have since been tightened, Uefa added, with the governing body acknowledging that its internal policies of the period would no longer meet the standards expected of a modern, high-profile organisation.

Infantino, now Fifa president, issued a denial through a spokesman, who told the Telegraph the allegations were “categorically untrue” and that any suggestion of misconduct was defamatory. Uefa’s statement did not address the nature of the relationship but confirmed the payment was processed in line with its internal policies of the period. The governing body also noted that no employee at Uefa or Fifa had ever raised a complaint regarding Infantino’s behaviour, a claim echoed by Fifa’s spokesman, who stated: “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.”

Why this matters now

The timing of the revelation raises immediate questions about governance and accountability at the sport’s highest levels. Infantino is already under fire for proposing to sell minority stakes in the World Cup to private investors, a plan he later abandoned after widespread criticism from European federations. Senior Fifa executives backed him at a meeting in Morocco on Wednesday, but European teams have threatened to boycott Fifa events, and calls for his resignation are growing.

Norway’s football association has publicly demanded Infantino step down, while Mexico and South America’s Conmebol have reaffirmed their support. The dual narratives—one of loyalty from some confederations, another of mounting dissent—highlight the widening rift within global football governance. Infantino’s leadership is now under scrutiny not only for the investment proposal but also for the ethical questions raised by the severance payment, which occurred during his time as Uefa’s general secretary.

What happens next

Fifa and Uefa have both been contacted for further comment, but the focus will now shift to whether independent oversight bodies launch formal reviews into the circumstances surrounding the payment. Uefa’s admission that its internal rules have since been strengthened suggests the organisation recognises the need for clearer safeguards. However, the absence of any prior complaint—cited by Fifa’s spokesman—does little to dispel concerns about transparency, particularly given the payment’s timing and the lack of clarity over the nature of the relationship.

The broader fallout could extend to Infantino’s re-election prospects. His current term runs until 2027, but the erosion of trust among European federations risks weakening his position ahead of any future vote. The convergence of financial, ethical, and reputational crises has created a volatile environment in which even symbolic concessions may no longer suffice. Should European federations maintain their boycott threat or escalate calls for his resignation, Infantino’s ability to govern effectively could be severely compromised, regardless of the outcome of any formal reviews.

For now, the sport’s governing bodies face a choice: either demonstrate decisive action to restore confidence or accept that the damage to their credibility has become irreversible. The coming days will determine whether Uefa and Fifa can move beyond these allegations or whether they will be drawn deeper into a crisis that threatens to destabilise football’s leadership structures.