Infantino denies claims Uefa paid off alleged 'lover'

Gianni Infantino, the current Fifa president, has vehemently denied recent allegations that Uefa, the European football governing body, paid a severance payment to an alleged lover during his tenure as general secretary from 2009 to 2016. A Daily Telegraph investigation revealed that the woman received a six-figure sum and Uefa confirmed the payment was made, stating it complied with regulations at the time.

Infantino, who is married, categorically denied the allegations, describing them as "categorically untrue" and defamatory. Uefa spokesperson added that all payments were in line with regulations at the time, which have since been tightened. The allegations have added pressure on Infantino, who is currently facing calls to resign as Fifa president over his controversial plans to sell World Cup stakes to private investors.

Despite his apology for "errors" in those proposals, Infantino has not resigned and maintains support from senior executives. European teams have threatened to boycott Fifa events, but Conmebol and the Confederation of African Football have backed Infantino, along with the associations of World Cup co-hosts Mexico and Argentina.