{
  "id": 366298,
  "title": "Fifa criticises campaign to oust president Infantino",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/fifa-criticises-campaign-to-oust-president-infantino",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-09T10:36:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "GBC Ghana",
    "slug": "gbc-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/sports/fifa-infantino-campaign/2026/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Fifa has vehemently denounced a campaign seeking to remove its president, Gianni Infantino, following a Daily Telegraph report alleging that an unnamed woman close to Infantino was given a severance payment by Uefa following an affair while he was Uefa's general secretary. Infantino \"strongly denies\" these claims, stating they are \"categorically untrue\".\n\nFifa has criticized the \"unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims\" circulating in the media, emphasizing that speculation and insinuation should not be treated as fact. The organization has joined Uefa and other European football associations in targeting Infantino, citing his failed Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal. This plan aimed to create a new company to manage commercial and ticketing rights, with 21% sold to a private investment firm.\n\nUefa has expressed its loss of confidence in Infantino, while the Norwegian Football Federation's president, Lise Klaveness, has called for his resignation. The European football governing body has threatened to boycott Fifa events if its demands for a halt to the FFE plan are not met.\n\nFifa maintains that Infantino was democratically elected by the organization's member associations and continues to serve with their mandate. The statement warns that those without the support of the member associations should not seek to achieve their goals through allegations, insinuation, or misinformation. Infantino's opposition is largely coming from within Europe, with the Mexican and South American football federations backing him, as well as all 54 nations of the Confederation of African Football.",
  "summary": "Source: BBC Fifa has strongly criticised what it calls a “concerted and ongoing effort” to “undermine” the organisation and its president Gianni Infantino. The statement follows a Daily Telegraph report, external which claimed Infantino’s alleged lover was given a severance payment by Uefa after he had an affair while he was its general secretary. A Fifa spokesperson told the Telegraph […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "FIFA vows to resist attempts to undermine president Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/fifa-vows-to-resist-attempts-to-undermine-president-infantino",
        "published": "2026-08-08T21:19:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport",
        "title": "Fifa criticises campaign to oust president Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/fifa-criticises-campaign-to-oust-president-infantino",
        "published": "2026-08-08T22:06:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Province",
        "title": "B.C.’s Victor Montagliani long ago said he wanted to be FIFA president. Will he even get the chance?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/b-c-s-victor-montagliani-long-ago-said-he-wanted-to-be-fifa-president",
        "published": "2026-08-08T22:38:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "FIFA defends president Gianni Infantino amid UEFA conduct allegations",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/fifa-defends-president-gianni-infantino-amid-uefa-conduct-allegations",
        "published": "2026-08-09T02:22:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "Javier Tebas, president of La Liga: 'The Infantino era is over'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/javier-tebas-president-of-la-liga-the-infantino-era-is-over",
        "published": "2026-08-09T06:01:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "FIFA defends its President Infantino amid backlash",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/fifa-defends-its-president-infantino-amid-backlash",
        "published": "2026-08-09T09:12:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "Fifa criticises campaign to oust president Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/fifa-criticises-campaign-to-oust-president-infantino-393203",
        "published": "2026-08-09T16:06:30.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}