FIFA has strongly rejected what it described as a “concerted and ongoing effort” to undermine the organization and its president, Gianni Infantino, amid growing criticism from European football bodies.
The statement followed a Daily Telegraph report alleging that a woman described as Infantino’s former lover received a severance payment from UEFA after an alleged affair during his tenure as UEFA general secretary. A FIFA spokesperson said Infantino “strongly denies” the allegations and described them as “categorically untrue.”
FIFA subsequently criticized what it called “unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims,” warning that speculation and insinuation should not be presented as facts.
Infantino is also facing mounting pressure from UEFA and several European football associations over his now-aborted FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal. The plan involved establishing a new company to manage FIFA’s commercial and ticketing rights, with a 21% stake potentially being sold to a private investment firm.
UEFA has said it has lost confidence in Infantino, while Norwegian Football Federation president Lise Klaveness called for his resignation on Friday.
European football’s governing body has also maintained that a boycott of FIFA events remains possible, saying it has not received sufficient assurances that the FFE proposal cannot be revived.
FIFA defended Infantino’s position, stressing that he was democratically elected by its member associations and continues to serve under their mandate.
The organization said those who lack the support of FIFA’s member associations should not attempt to achieve through allegations, insinuations or misinformation what they cannot accomplish through the organization’s established democratic processes.
Most of the opposition to Infantino has emerged from Europe. The Mexican Football Federation, however, broke with its regional governing body CONCACAF to publicly support the FIFA president.
Mexico echoed CONMEBOL, South America’s governing body, in saying it would oppose any attempt to remove Infantino without a vote involving all 211 FIFA member associations.
Infantino also retains unanimous backing from the 54 member associations of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), providing him with significant support outside Europe as the dispute continues.
