FIFA on Saturday launched a stunning defence of Gianni Infantino amid the revolt from UEFA, calling it “a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine” world football’s governing body and its president.
FIFA’s statement came after UEFA, on Friday, confirmed that it had made a “departure payment” to a female employee who was allegedly in a relationship with Infantino when he served as the European football body’s general secretary between 2009 and 2016.
According to a report in Britain’s Telegraph, UEFA revealed that the woman received a six-figure sum, with the payment also covering her MBA course fees. The governing body said the payment was “in line” with regulations at the time.
Infantino has strongly denied the allegations, with a FIFA spokesman telling the publication that they were “categorically untrue.”
FIFA later released a lengthy statement, claiming that the allegations were part of an effort to weaken Infantino’s authority and remove him from office without going through the proper re-election process.
Infantino has faced mounting pressure since his controversial proposal to sell stakes in the profits from FIFA’s biggest competitions through a commercial subsidiary, the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The plan eventually collapsed after three confederations rejected it.
{{/usCountry}}Infantino has faced mounting pressure since his controversial proposal to sell stakes in the profits from FIFA’s biggest competitions through a commercial subsidiary, the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The plan eventually collapsed after three confederations rejected it.
{{/usCountry}}UEFA led the strongest revolt, with all 55 of its member associations threatening to boycott the World Cup despite Infantino apologising for the failed proposal.
“It is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its president,” FIFA said.
“Those who do not have the support of FIFA’s member associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through FIFA’s established democratic processes.”
FIFA also hit out at recent reports, describing them as containing “unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims” concerning the organisation and its president.
“Speculation and insinuation should not be presented as fact, and repetition does not make an allegation true,” it added.
Earlier in the week, senior FIFA leadership met in Morocco following the backlash over the FFE proposal. The organisation acknowledged that “mistakes were made” in the process but “reaffirmed their full support” for Infantino’s presidency.
While UEFA continues to threaten a boycott, Infantino has received significant backing from football bodies outside Europe.
South American governing body CONMEBOL said it would not support any move to remove Infantino before the end of his term, while the African governing body CAF expressed its “unanimous support” for the FIFA president.
Concacaf had earlier criticised Infantino over the private investor plan, calling it a “unilateral and egregious act of poor governance” and demanding a full review of his leadership.
However, Mexico, one of Concacaf’s members, backed Infantino and his call to continue developing football for all 211 FIFA member associations.
“Change inevitably challenges established interests, but disagreement with that change cannot justify efforts to undermine the democratic mandate of FIFA’s president or the institution he was elected to lead,” FIFA added.
“FIFA welcomes legitimate scrutiny. But scrutiny is not a licence to distort facts, amplify unsubstantiated allegations or manufacture distractions designed to undermine progress.”
It added that where reporting is “inaccurate or misleading”, FIFA would challenge it “directly and vigorously.”