Fifa president Gianni Infantino denies claims Uefa paid off alleged ‘lover’

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has categorically denied allegations that Uefa paid off an alleged "lover" while he was the general secretary of Uefa from 2009 to 2016. The Daily Telegraph reported that a woman received a six-figure sum following an alleged relationship with Infantino, but Uefa has confirmed that a "departure payment" was made to the individual, along with covering the fees for an MBA course.

Uefa stated that the payment was "in line" with regulations at the time, which have since been tightened. Infantino, who worked at Uefa for 16 years, was elected as Fifa president in February 2016. The allegations come as pressure mounts on Infantino following his plan to seek private investment in a company that would run Fifa's competitions, which was rejected by Uefa and two other continental confederations. Uefa has threatened to boycott Fifa competitions until the plan is scrapped.