FIFA has expressed strong disapproval of what it describes as “a coordinated and ongoing attempt by certain individuals to undermine” the organization and its president, Gianni Infantino.
This statement follows UEFA’s confirmation on Friday that a “departure payment” was made to a female staff member who was allegedly in a relationship with Infantino during his tenure as UEFA’s general secretary.
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According to Britain’s Daily Telegraph, the woman received a six-figure sum, and UEFA confirmed that the payment was accompanied by fees for an MBA program, stating it was “in accordance” with regulations at the time.
A FIFA spokesperson informed the Telegraph that Infantino “strongly denies these allegations, asserting that they are categorically untrue.”
In a detailed statement issued on Saturday, FIFA condemned “unfounded assertions and clearly false claims” aimed at diminishing Infantino’s authority and facilitating his exit from office without a proper re-election process.
Infantino has faced scrutiny following the rejection of his proposal to commercialize World Cup profits via a subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) by three continents.
UEFA, where Infantino served for 16 years as general secretary from 2009 to 2016 before becoming FIFA president, has been among his most vocal critics.
This week, UEFA announced that its 55 member nations could still boycott FIFA events, including the World Cup, despite Infantino’s apologies for his unsuccessful plan.
“It is increasingly clear that there is a deliberate and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its president,” FIFA stated in its Saturday announcement.
“Those lacking the support of FIFA’s member associations should not attempt to achieve through accusations, insinuations, or misinformation what they cannot obtain through the established democratic processes of FIFA.”
“Recent reports have included unfounded assertions and clearly false claims about FIFA and its president. Speculation and insinuation should not be regarded as fact, and mere repetition does not make an allegation true.”
After a meeting of senior FIFA leaders in Morocco on Wednesday, FIFA admitted that “mistakes were made” regarding the proposal but “reiterated its full backing” for Infantino’s presidency.
While UEFA maintains its threat of a boycott, Infantino has received considerable support outside of Europe.
The South American governing body CONMEBOL, which is advocating for an expansion of the 2030 finals to 64 teams, stated on Thursday that it would not endorse any accelerated efforts to dismiss Infantino. The executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has also expressed its “unanimous support” for him.
In contrast, Concacaf, the governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean, criticized Infantino last Saturday, labeling his actions relating to the private investor plan as a “unilateral and egregious act of poor governance,” and called for a thorough review of his leadership.
Nonetheless, Concacaf member Mexico voiced its support for the FIFA president and endorsed his initiative to “collectively advance football for the benefit of all 211 member associations.”
“Change invariably challenges established interests, but opposition to that change cannot justify attempts to undermine the democratic authority of FIFA’s president or the institution he was elected to lead,” FIFA emphasized in its statement on Saturday.
“FIFA values legitimate scrutiny, but that does not allow for distortion of facts, amplification of baseless allegations, or creation of distractions aimed at impeding progress. Where reporting is inaccurate or misleading, FIFA will confront it directly and vigorously.”
Contributions from PA and The Associated Press are included in this report.