{
  "id": 295610,
  "title": "FIFA's Gianni Infantino fights off fresh scandal as Uefa confirms payment to alleged 'lover' amid calls to resign",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/fifas-gianni-infantino-fights-off-fresh-scandal-as-uefa-confirms",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-08T03:12:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Live Mint",
    "slug": "live-mint",
    "url": "https://www.livemint.com/news/trends/fifas-gianni-infantino-fights-off-fresh-scandal-as-uefa-confirms-payment-to-alleged-lover-amid-calls-to-resign-11786158111805.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "European football's governing body, Uefa, has confirmed making a payment to a woman alleged to have been in a relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino while he served as general secretary from 2009 to 2016. The six-figure sum was given to the woman for her tuition fees for an MBA program at a local business school, Uefa stated, adding that the arrangement complied with the rules in place at the time. Infantino, who is married, has categorically denied these allegations, dismissing them as defamatory and asserting that no formal complaint about his behavior had ever been lodged at either organization. The fresh allegations come at a challenging time for Infantino, who is already under scrutiny over his aborted plan to sell World Cup stakes to private investors. Despite the backlash, he has resisted calls for his resignation, securing support from senior football executives during a recent meeting in Morocco. However, several European football associations have threatened to boycott FIFA events, arguing that conditions attached to their cooperation still haven't been met. Infantino's career in football administration spans over two decades, and he has faced multiple controversies throughout his tenure. Whether these latest allegations will lead to calls for his resignation or fade into the background remains to be seen.",
  "summary": "Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, is facing a new scandal. According to a Daily Telegraph investigation, while Infantino was general secretary of UEFA, the organization made a six-figure severance payment to a woman with whom he allegedly had an affair. Infantino is married and has strongly denied the allegations, calling them \"categorically untrue.\"\n\nUEFA confirmed that a departure payment was made to the individual in question, which covered the fees for her to complete an MBA course. A FIFA spokesman stated that any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes or regulations is defamatory.\n\nInfantino is currently fighting for his future as FIFA president after his plans to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors were met with criticism and ultimately abandoned. Despite the allegations, no employee at UEFA or FIFA has ever raised a complaint regarding Infantino's behavior.",
  "key_points": [
    "Uefa confirms payment of six-figure sum to woman alleged to be Infantino's lover",
    "Infantino denies allegations, calls them defamatory",
    "European associations threaten to boycott FIFA events"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Guardian Business",
        "title": "Fifa launches new attack on media over alleged ‘concerted effort’ to undermine Gianni Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/fifa-launches-new-attack-on-media-over-alleged-concerted-effort-to",
        "published": "2026-08-08T22:17:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}