UEFA has acknowledged that it is aware of a serious allegation suggesting that the European football governing body made a substantial payment to a woman who is alleged to have been involved romantically with Gianni Infantino while he was employed there. The story, first reported by The Telegraph, claims that during Infantino’s period as UEFA’s general secretary—a role he held from 2000 until his departure in 2016—a six‑figure sum was provided to a woman said to be his mistress. The report further alleges that UEFA funded this individual’s MBA (Master of Business Administration) studies after she left the organisation. According to the same Telegraph article, the payment was not a one‑off cash hand‑out but part of a broader departure package that also covered tuition fees for a postgraduate business degree at a local business school.
The piece suggests that the payment was framed as a legitimate severance arrangement, yet the context of the alleged personal relationship has raised questions about the propriety of the transaction. In response, a FIFA spokesperson addressed the claims in a statement to The Telegraph, emphatically denying any wrongdoing.
The spokesperson said that President Gianni Infantino "strongly denies these allegations, and they are categorically untrue." The statement further described any insinuations of misconduct, breaches of statutes or regulations as defamatory. It added that no UEFA or FIFA employee has ever lodged a formal complaint concerning Infantino’s conduct, emphasizing that "there never was an incident where he was involved." The spokesperson also clarified that any payments made to staff members, including severance and departure packages, are always subject to approval by the appropriate directors and are fully compliant with the regulations in force at the time.
UEFA itself confirmed to Sky Sports News that a payment was indeed made to an individual, but it maintained that the payment complied with the rules that were applicable when the transaction occurred. The governing body explained that the regulations governing staff departures have been tightened since 2016, and the current framework is designed to reflect the standards expected of a modern, high‑profile organisation. In a statement to Sky Sports News, UEFA said: "We are aware of the allegations and can confirm a departure payment was made to the individual in question, coupled with the payment of fees for an MBA course at a local business school.
The payment was in line with the regulations that existed for departing staff at the time. Such regulations have been tightened since 2016 and the current staff regulations – which apply to all UEFA employees at whatever level – reflect those found in a modern, high‑profile organisation." The allegations have sparked a broader discussion about governance, transparency, and the handling of personal relationships within football’s top administrative bodies. Critics argue that even if the payment was technically permissible under the rules of the day, the appearance of a large sum being directed to a person linked to a senior official could undermine public confidence in the integrity of the sport’s leadership.
They point out that the perception of favouritism or the use of organisational resources to settle personal matters, even indirectly, can be damaging. Supporters of Infantino and UEFA counter that the organisation acted within the legal and procedural boundaries that existed at the time, and that any retrospective judgment should consider the regulatory environment in place during the period in question. They also highlight that the current, stricter regulations were introduced precisely to avoid any ambiguity about the appropriateness of such payments. The timeline is noteworthy: Infantino served as UEFA’s general secretary for 16 years, a period during which he oversaw significant commercial growth and the expansion of European competitions.
He left UEFA in 2016 to assume the role of FIFA President, a position he still holds. Since taking the helm at FIFA, Infantino has been a polarising figure, praised for modernising initiatives but also criticised for various controversies.
The claim that a six‑figure departure sum and an MBA tuition fee were provided to a woman alleged to be Infantino’s mistress adds a personal dimension to the broader governance debate. It raises questions about how clubs, associations, and governing bodies manage the intersection of personal relationships and professional responsibilities. While no formal complaint has been recorded, the media coverage has amplified the issue, prompting calls for greater scrutiny of staff remuneration policies and the processes that govern severance arrangements.
FIFA was contacted for comment by Sky Sports News, but the response in the public domain remains limited to the earlier statement denying the allegations. The governing body’s official stance reiterates that any suggestion of misconduct is unfounded and that all financial transactions involving staff have adhered to the relevant statutes. In summary, UEFA acknowledges that a payment was made to an individual who left the organisation, and it asserts that the payment complied with the rules that existed at that time. The governing body also notes that those rules have since been tightened to prevent any potential misuse of funds.
FIFA, through its spokesperson, has categorically denied the allegations, calling them defamatory and emphasizing that no employee has ever lodged a complaint about Infantino’s behaviour. The episode underscores the ongoing tension between historical practices and contemporary expectations of transparency within the world’s most influential football institutions.