European football’s governing body has confirmed it is aware of explosive allegations that it made a substantial payout to a woman said to have been romantically involved with FIFA president Gianni Infantino during his tenure as UEFA’s general secretary.
The claims, first reported by The Telegraph, allege that the woman received a six-figure sum tied to her departure from the organization and that UEFA subsequently covered the cost of an MBA she pursued at a local business school after leaving.
Infantino reportedly used his connections to help her secure a new, well-paying position in a similar field after she left UEFA. Infantino joined UEFA in 2000 and rose to secretary general in 2009, remaining in the role until his move to FIFA’s presidency in 2016.
In a statement, UEFA acknowledged the payment but stopped short of confirming the nature of the relationship itself. The organization said a financial sum had been paid to the individual upon termination of her professional relationship with UEFA, covering the cost of her MBA studies.
It added that the arrangement complied with the staff regulations in place at the time, rules it says have since been overhauled to match standards expected of a modern, high-profile institution.
FIFA has pushed back forcefully on the story. A FIFA spokesperson called the allegations completely untrue and said any suggestion of improper conduct or a breach of the rules would be defamatory.
The spokesperson further maintained that no employee at either UEFA or FIFA has ever lodged a complaint about Infantino’s conduct, insisting that no such incident ever took place.
The timing is particularly awkward for the 53-year-old, who is married with four children and has spent much of the past year fending off criticism on other fronts. The report lands just as Infantino continues to face fallout from his push to sell stakes in FIFA’s flagship competitions to private investors, a plan that has drawn heavy pushback.
UEFA itself has emerged as the fiercest critic of that proposal, even threatening to boycott FIFA competitions over it, while other national federations have signaled they may withdraw their backing for Infantino altogether.
Compounding the pressure, Infantino is also facing scrutiny over reports that host cities from the 2026 World Cup are still chasing $1 million payments he had promised them.
With a re-election bid for the FIFA presidency looming in 2027, the mistress allegations add a personal and reputational dimension to what was already shaping up to be a turbulent stretch for football’s most powerful administrator.
Neither UEFA nor FIFA has indicated whether any further action or investigation will follow the disclosure.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
UEFA has admitted paying a six-figure departure sum and covering an MBA for a woman allegedly linked romantically to Gianni Infantino during his time as the body’s general secretary but has not confirmed the affair itself.
FIFA and Infantino deny any wrongdoing outright, calling the story defamatory. The real significance isn’t just the payment; it’s the timing: the allegations surface while Infantino is already under heavy pressure over his failed World Cup investment scheme and unpaid host-city bonuses, adding a personal scandal to a presidency already fighting to hold its credibility ahead of the 2027 election.
