Gianni Infantino's Fifa presidency has been marred by controversy over his plans to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. The Swiss-Italian football administrator is now facing allegations that he received a six-figure severance payment from Uefa, the European governing body, after an affair with a woman.
The Daily Telegraph investigation found that the payment was made while Infantino was Uefa's general secretary from 2009 to 2016. Uefa has confirmed that a departure payment was made to the individual in question, but claimed that all payments were in line with regulations at the time.
Infantino Denies Allegations
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has strongly denied the allegations, calling them "categorically untrue". A Fifa spokesman told the Telegraph that Infantino "strongly denies these allegations, and they are categorically untrue. Any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes or regulations is defamatory."
Infantino also claimed that no employee at Uefa and Fifa has ever raised a complaint regarding his behaviour because there never was an incident where he was involved.
Uefa's Response
Uefa has confirmed that a payment was made to the woman in question, but claimed that it was a severance payment for her to complete an MBA course at a local business school. The governing body said that all payments were in line with regulations at the time, but those regulations have since been tightened and "reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organisation".
Infantino joined Uefa in 2000 and became secretary general in 2009, before being appointed Fifa president in 2016. European teams have threatened to boycott Fifa events over the World Cup private investment plan, but Conmebol – the South American confederation – and the Confederation of African Football (Caf) have backed Infantino.
Reaction from Football Community
The allegations have put further pressure on Infantino, who is facing calls to resign as Fifa president. The 56-year-old has apologised for "errors" he made in the World Cup private investment plan, but did not step down after receiving the backing of senior executives in a meeting in Morocco on Wednesday.
European teams have threatened to boycott Fifa events despite the plans being aborted, saying certain conditions have not been met. But Conmebol – the South American confederation – and the Confederation of African Football (Caf) have backed Infantino, as have the football associations of World Cup co-hosts Mexico and tournament runners-up Argentina.
The controversy surrounding Infantino's presidency has sparked a debate over his leadership and the direction of Fifa. As the governing body of world football, Fifa has a responsibility to uphold the values of the sport and ensure that its decisions are in the best interests of the game.
The future of Infantino's presidency remains uncertain, with the governing body's executive committee set to meet in the coming weeks to discuss the matter. The outcome of this meeting will be closely watched by football fans around the world, who are eager to see how Fifa will address the controversy surrounding its president.
Source: Joy Online
