UEFA has confirmed that it paid a financial settlement to a former junior employee following allegations concerning an alleged relationship with Gianni Infantino during his time as the organisation’s general secretary.
The payment, described in a new investigation by The Telegraph as a six-figure severance package, has intensified scrutiny of the FIFA president, who is already facing pressure and calls for his resignation.
UEFA has acknowledged the existence of the settlement while stressing that it has recently strengthened its internal regulations.
FIFA, however, has categorically rejected the allegations, describing them as defamatory.
The Telegraph’s investigation alleges that the former employee was involved in a relationship with Infantino while he was serving as UEFA’s general secretary. It also reports that UEFA financed the woman’s MBA degree after she left the organisation.
The claims have added to wider concerns surrounding Infantino’s period at the European football governing body, including allegations of conflicts of interest and questions about internal promotions.
The latest controversy comes at a time when the FIFA president is already under pressure from critics calling for him to step down.
UEFA has confirmed that it was aware of an allegation involving a former employee who was allegedly in a relationship with Infantino during his time as general secretary.
The organisation has not accepted the wider allegations as established fact but has confirmed that a financial settlement was made.
The reported payment is understood to have involved a six-figure sum, while the former employee is also reported to have received financial support for an MBA after leaving UEFA.
The allegations have drawn renewed attention to Infantino’s time in charge of UEFA’s administration before he became president of FIFA.
During that period, questions have been raised about the treatment and advancement of staff within the organisation. The latest claims have therefore become part of a wider debate about governance and potential conflicts of interest within European football’s governing body.
FIFA has strongly rejected the claims made against its president.
The governing body has labelled the allegations defamatory, creating a sharp disagreement between the accounts surrounding the reported settlement and the allegations linked to Infantino.
The controversy has also prompted renewed political and sporting pressure on the FIFA president.
The article notes that Infantino is already facing calls for his resignation from UEFA, while the latest allegations threaten to further damage his reputation at the head of world football.
The claims are particularly significant because they concern a period before Infantino moved to FIFA’s top position. He was general secretary of UEFA before becoming president of the global governing body.
The allegations also raise questions about how UEFA handled the employee’s departure and the financial arrangements that followed it.
The reported funding of an MBA degree after the employee left the organisation is another element of the investigation that has attracted attention.
UEFA’s confirmation that a financial settlement existed, alongside its statement that internal regulations have since been tightened, provides the organisation’s clearest acknowledgement of the issue.
However, FIFA’s categorical rejection of the allegations means the central claims remain disputed.
The developments come amid broader scrutiny of Infantino’s leadership and allegations concerning conflicts of interest and internal promotions during his time at UEFA.
With pressure already building around the FIFA president, the latest investigation is likely to add further focus to his record in football administration.
For now, UEFA has confirmed the existence of a settlement, while FIFA has rejected the allegations as defamatory. The claims concerning the alleged relationship, promotions and circumstances surrounding the employee’s departure remain allegations rather than established findings.
