Gianni Infantino is facing fresh pressure after an investigation alleged that a woman he is said to have had a relationship with received tens of thousands of pounds from UEFA after agreeing to leave the organisation.
The report, published by the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph on Friday, concerns the period when Infantino was serving as UEFA general secretary. It claims the payment was made against the backdrop of the alleged relationship between the woman and the current FIFA president.
The allegations add to the growing difficulties surrounding Infantino, who is already under pressure to resign after the failure of his controversial plan to sell part of the World Cup rights.
The latest claims are expected to trigger further scrutiny of Infantino’s conduct during his time at UEFA and could renew questions about his future as head of FIFA.
The Daily Telegraph reported that resignation would represent the simplest way for Infantino to bring the controversy to an end. If that does not happen, the next clear opportunity for change would be FIFA’s presidential election in March 2027.
Infantino could either lose that election or decide not to stand if enough national associations withdrew their support and a credible alternative candidate emerged, the newspaper said.
FIFA’s regulations theoretically provide procedures for dealing with ethical breaches. However, in a statement issued this week, the governing body acknowledged mistakes while insisting that “everything that was done was done in full compliance with the FIFA regulatory framework”.
That response is likely to come under renewed examination following the allegations concerning Infantino’s conduct at UEFA.
Beyond FIFA’s formal mechanisms, political pressure on the Swiss official could also intensify. That pressure could come from national leaders as well as the member associations that make up the international football organisation.
Mark Carney, the Prime Minister of Canada, has joined Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister of Britain, and others in saying they have lost confidence in Infantino.
The latest development comes as Infantino’s wider position is already being questioned following the collapse of his disputed proposal involving the sale of World Cup rights. The combination of that setback and the allegations linked to his time at UEFA could make it increasingly difficult for him to maintain the level of support required to continue unchallenged.
Any decision about his position would ultimately depend on the formal processes within FIFA, the backing of member associations and the outcome of the next presidential election in March 2027. Until then, the pressure on the FIFA president is expected to remain focused on both the alleged payment and the organisation’s handling of the claims.