Archive · 9 Aug 2026
FIFA President Infantino Denies Affair, Favouritism Allegations
The boss of world football, Gianni Infantino, is in trouble.
A British newspaper says that when he worked for UEFA, he gave a lot of money to someone they say he had a secret relationship with.
The newspaper says the money was a goodbye gift and also paid for her school classes.
It also says he helped her get a better job.
Mr. Infantino says this is all not true and that the story is unfair to him.
UEFA, his old workplace, said it did give the person money when she left.
But UEFA says this was a normal thing to do back then and that the rules were different before 2016.
People are already upset with Mr. Infantino because of another plan he had about the World Cup.
He wanted rich investors to help pay for it, but he stopped that plan.
Some football leaders still want to boycott the World Cup because of that.
Mr. Infantino is hoping to be re-elected as president next March.
The Telegraph reported that FIFA president Gianni Infantino paid off an alleged lover while he worked at UEFA and used his influence to secure her a promotion.
Infantino has categorically denied the allegations, which he called 'defamatory' and 'categorically untrue.'
The employee reportedly received a six-figure departure payment plus around 45,000 for business school tuition fees.
UEFA acknowledged the payments but said they were in line with the departure regulations in effect at the time, which were tightened in 2016.
The allegations come amid a crisis over Infantino's abandoned plan to open the World Cup to private investors, with UEFA threatening to boycott the tournaments.
- Who
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who is accused by The Telegraph newspaper and denies the allegations.
- What
- Infantino is accused of paying off an alleged lover and securing a promotion for her while serving as UEFA secretary general.
- When
- The allegations were published late on Friday, referring to his 2009-2016 tenure at UEFA; Infantino is standing for re-election next March.
- Where
- Paris, where the report was filed; the alleged conduct relates to his time at European football's governing body UEFA.
- Why
- The allegations surfaced as Infantino faces criticism over his abandoned plan to open the World Cup to private investors and a UEFA boycott threat.
Critics / The Telegraph
Infantino & FIFA / UEFA
Nature of the payments
Critics / The Telegraph
The Telegraph suggests the six-figure departure payment and MBA tuition were improper compensation related to an intimate relationship.
Infantino & FIFA / UEFA
UEFA says the payment was in line with the departure regulations that existed at the time, and FIFA says there was no incident and no complaint was ever raised.
Promotion and favouritism
Critics / The Telegraph
Infantino allegedly used his influence to secure a promotion for the same UEFA employee he was romantically involved with.
Infantino & FIFA / UEFA
Infantino strongly denies any inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes or regulations, calling the insinuations defamatory.
World Cup investment plan fallout
Critics / The Telegraph
Critics, including UEFA, say the mere withdrawal of the private investment plan is insufficient given the controversy it caused.
Infantino & FIFA / UEFA
Infantino's camp faces a crisis over the abandoned plan, which was shelved, though UEFA has stood by its threat to boycott the World Cups.
- Accused
- Gianni Infantino, FIFA president and former UEFA secretary general (2009-2016)
- Allegation source
- The British newspaper The Telegraph
- Alleged payments
- Six-figure departure payment plus ~45,000 for MBA tuition fees
- Infantino's response
- Categorically denied; called allegations 'defamatory' and 'categorically untrue'
- UEFA's response
- Acknowledged payment, said it complied with departure regulations of the time, tightened since 2016
- Marital status
- Married since 2001
- Context
- Abandoned World Cup private investment plan; UEFA stands by boycott threat
- Upcoming
- Infantino standing for re-election next March