{
  "id": 305384,
  "title": "Fifa president Gianni Infantino denies claims Uefa paid off alleged ‘lover’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/fifa-president-gianni-infantino-denies-claims-uefa-paid-off-alleged",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-08T09:27:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Business",
    "slug": "guardian-business",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/08/fifa-gianni-infantino-uefa-employee-departure-payment-allegations-denial"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Gianni Infantino, the president of Fifa, has denied allegations that Uefa paid a six-figure sum to a former employee who allegedly had a relationship with him while he was Uefa's general secretary. According to Uefa, the payment was a \"departure payment\" made in line with regulations at the time, and also covered fees for an MBA course.\n\nThe allegations surfaced after a report by The Daily Telegraph claimed the woman received a substantial payment following the alleged relationship with Infantino. Fifa has dismissed the allegations as \"categorically untrue\".\n\nInfantino's leadership at Fifa is under scrutiny, particularly with his re-election bid for a final term in March 2027. While some European football associations have withdrawn their support, others, such as the African football confederation, have backed him.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Island Sri Lanka",
        "title": "Africa backs Infantino as CAF unanimously votes in FIFA president’s favour",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/africa-backs-infantino-as-caf-unanimously-votes-in-fifa-presidents",
        "published": "2026-08-08T02:56:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Norway Football Federation calls for FIFA president to resign",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/norway-football-federation-calls-for-fifa-president-to-resign",
        "published": "2026-08-08T04:37:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "FIFA president Infantino denies alleged affair, calls UEFA claims 'defamatory'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/fifa-president-infantino-denies-alleged-affair-calls-uefa-claims",
        "published": "2026-08-08T06:25:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "TheCable",
        "title": "‘Outright falsehood’ — NFF denies backing calls for FIFA president to resign",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/outright-falsehood-nff-denies-backing-calls-for-fifa-president-to",
        "published": "2026-08-08T19:22:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Tempo.co English",
        "title": "Indonesia's PSSI Backs Gianni Infantino for FIFA President Reelection",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/indonesias-pssi-backs-gianni-infantino-for-fifa-president-reelection",
        "published": "2026-08-09T01:34:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}