Gianni Infantino denies Telegraph claims Uefa paid alleged ‘lover’

Fifa president Gianni Infantino on Friday denied claims in the Daily Telegraph that Uefa paid a six-figure departure sum to a female employee alleged to have been in a relationship with him while he served as Uefa general secretary. A Fifa spokesman told the Telegraph the allegations were "categorically untrue."

Infantino worked at Uefa for 16 years and was its general secretary from 2009 before being elected as Fifa president in February 2016. In response to the Telegraph report, the spokesman said: "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." He added: "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."

A Uefa spokesperson confirmed a "departure payment" was made to the individual in question and that Uefa paid fees for an MBA course at a local business school. Uefa said the payment "was in line with the regulations that existed for departing staff at the time." The confederation also stated: "Such regulations have been tightened since 2016 and the current staff regulations – which apply to all Uefa employees at whatever level – reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organisation."

The Daily Telegraph reported on Friday night that the woman received a six-figure sum following the alleged relationship with Infantino. Uefa described the payment and the MBA-fee arrangement as consistent with the rules that applied when the staff member departed.

Infantino has been under pressure for two weeks over a separate proposal to sell stakes to private investors in a company to run the World Cup. That plan was rejected by Uefa and two other continental confederations.

Following a meeting in Morocco, Fifa’s management board backed Infantino and he issued an apology over the process.

Uefa’s threat for its 55 member countries to boycott Fifa competitions until the plan was scrapped remains, with the European confederation saying on Thursday that Wednesday’s announcement "changes nothing."