Gianni Infantino has strongly denied allegations that Uefa paid a six-figure severance sum to a woman with whom he allegedly had a relationship while he was the organisation’s general secretary.
A Daily Telegraph investigation reported that the payment was made during Infantino’s time at European football’s governing body, where he held the senior executive role from 2009 until 2016.
A spokesperson for the current Fifa president told the newspaper that Infantino “strongly denies these categorically untrue allegations”.
Uefa has confirmed that a payment was made to “the individual in question”, saying it covered the cost of the woman completing an MBA course at a local business school.
The organisation said the payment complied with the regulations in force at the time. It added that those rules have since been strengthened and now “reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organisation”.
The claims have emerged as Infantino faces mounting pressure over his position as Fifa president after his plans to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors were abandoned.
BBC Sport has contacted Fifa and Infantino for comment.
The Telegraph said the woman had an alleged relationship with Infantino, who is married, during his employment at Uefa. It reported that she received a payment worth six figures when she left the organisation.
“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,” a Fifa spokesman told the Telegraph.
“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.”
The allegations add to the scrutiny surrounding Infantino’s leadership of world football’s governing body. He has faced calls to resign over proposals connected to private investment in the World Cup.
Infantino apologised for “errors” made in relation to the controversial plans, but did not resign after senior executives backed him at a meeting in Morocco on Wednesday.
He joined Uefa in 2000 and was appointed secretary general in 2009. He became Fifa president in 2016.
European teams have threatened to boycott Fifa events despite the investment proposals being aborted, arguing that certain conditions have not been met.
Infantino has, however, retained support from significant parts of the international football community. CONMEBOL and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have backed him, along with the football associations of World Cup co-hosts Mexico and tournament runners-up Argentina.
Uefa has not alleged that Infantino personally received any payment. Its statement confirmed only that a departure payment was made to the woman named in the report and that the associated arrangements were considered compliant with the rules that applied at the time.
