UEFA Confirms Payment to Former Employee Linked to FIFA's Infantino

UEFA has confirmed that it made a "departure payment" to a female worker who reportedly had a relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino when he was the general secretary.

This payment came to light after a report by The Telegraph. The woman received a six-figure amount after her alleged relationship with Infantino, who has been married since 2001.

UEFA also revealed that it covered fees for an MBA course at a local business school for this employee.

A spokesperson for UEFA told ITV News on Saturday that the payment followed the rules for departing staff at that time.

"We are aware of the allegations and can confirm a departure payment was made to the individual in question, coupled with the payment of fees for an MBA course at a local business school.

The payment was in line with the regulations that existed for departing staff at the time," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that UEFA has since updated its staff rules.

"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 organization," the spokesperson said.

Infantino spent 16 years at UEFA and served as general secretary from 2009 to 2016 before becoming FIFA president.

This news comes as Infantino faces growing criticism over his plan to seek private investment for a company that would run FIFA competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups.

Infantino held emergency meetings with sports executives in Rabat, Morocco, this week and got support from the organization’s management board.

But UEFA has kept its warning that its 55 member associations could boycott FIFA competitions, even after Infantino apologized for what he called mistakes around the investment plan.

Infantino is set to run for re-election as FIFA president next year, but no one has come forward to challenge him yet.

Several national football associations, including those from Finland, England, Wales, Serbia, Germany, and Sweden, have pulled their support for Infantino, according to ITV News.

The Romanian and Czech football associations have also hinted they might not support him, though they have not officially announced their stance.

Meanwhile, countries like Qatar, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Morocco have publicly supported Infantino.