Sport
Infantino denies UEFA paid severance to alleged mistress
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has denied claims made in a British newspaper that UEFA paid off an alleged mistress during his tenure as general secretary.
Gianni Infantino, the FIFA President, has denied allegations that UEFA made a severance payment to an alleged mistress while he was serving as its general secretary. These claims were reported by the Daily Telegraph, which stated that Infantino's alleged lover received a payment in relation to their affair.
According to the investigation by the Daily Telegraph, the payment was characterized as a 'severance payment'. Infantino has described the accusations as 'categorically untrue', rejecting any suggestion of an affair or misconduct during his time with UEFA.
In contrast, UEFA acknowledged that a 'departure payment' was made to a female employee during Infantino's time at the organization. This statement has led to some confusion as it seems to confirm that a payment was made while not specifically addressing the context alleged in the report.
Infantino has stated that the claims against him are 'defamatory' and has emphasized his commitment to transparency and integrity within football administration. He dismissed the allegations raised by the British newspaper as lacking factual basis.
The allegations come at a time when Infantino is facing scrutiny over various issues, including a recently shelved private investment plan. His leadership at FIFA has been marked by considerable controversy since he assumed the presidency in 2016.
Responses to the allegations have varied, with some media outlets and commentators questioning the legitimacy of the claims given UEFA's acknowledgment of a payment. Infantino continues to assert that he did not engage in any favoritism or misconduct during his tenure as UEFA's general secretary.