Gianni Infantino Faces New Scrutiny Over Alleged Severance Payment

Gianni Infantino faces fresh scrutiny after a report claimed that an alleged former lover received a severance payment from Uefa during his time as the organisation’s general secretary.

According to an investigation by the Daily Telegraph, Uefa authorised a six-figure payout to a woman who is said to have had a relationship with Infantino while he worked at European football’s governing body. Infantino, who is married and now serves as Fifa president, has “strongly” rejected the claims.

A spokesman for Infantino was quoted as telling the newspaper that he “strongly denies these categorically untrue allegations”, insisting any suggestion of misconduct is false.

Uefa has confirmed that a payment was made to the woman in question. In a statement, it said the settlement included covering the fees for her to complete an MBA course at a local business school. The organisation stressed that all payments complied with the rules in place at the time, while adding that its regulations have since been tightened to match those of a “modern, high-profile organisation”.

The Telegraph’s report lands at a delicate moment for Infantino, who is already battling to protect his position at Fifa after his controversial and ultimately abandoned attempt to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. The latest allegations add another layer of pressure around a presidency that has rarely been free of turbulence.

“Fifa president Gianni Infantino strongly denies these allegations, and they are categorically untrue. Any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes or regulations is defamatory,” the spokesman said.

He also underlined that “no employee at Uefa and Fifa has ever raised a complaint regarding Mr Infantino’s behaviour because there never was an incident where he was involved”.

BBC Sport has contacted both Fifa and Infantino for further comment. For a president already fighting to steady his authority, the questions around his past at Uefa now threaten to cast an even longer shadow over his future at the top of the global game.