Infantino denies allegations of affair, favouritism while at UEFA

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has vehemently denied allegations of having an affair and favoritism while serving at UEFA, according to a British newspaper report. The Italian-Swiss lawyer, who once headed UEFA's executive committee from 2009 to 2016, has categorically denied the claims published by The Telegraph.

The allegations originated from a story in The Telegraph, which reported that Infantino allegedly paid off an alleged lover during his tenure at UEFA. The newspaper further claimed that Infantino had also utilized his influence to secure a promotion for the same individual he was in an intimate relationship with. However, the report did not provide specific sources for these assertions.

Upon inquiry, a FIFA spokesperson declined to comment on the allegations, citing a lack of response from the organization. Meanwhile, UEFA confirmed that the individual in question received a "six-figure sum" upon her departure from UEFA, along with the payment of tuition fees for an MBA course at a local business school, amounting to around $60,700.

UEFA acknowledged that the payment was compliant with the regulations in place during that time, stating that "such regulations have been tightened since 2016." The football authority emphasized that any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes would be considered defamatory and denied that any employee had ever raised a complaint regarding Infantino's behavior.

Infantino, who is married and has been in office since 2016, is currently seeking re-election in March 2026. The controversy surrounding his private investment plan, which was later abandoned, has led to a crisis for FIFA, particularly from UEFA, which has threatened to boycott the World Cup events in protest.