Fifa has issued a strong statement criticising what it describes as a “concerted and ongoing effort” to “undermine” the organisation and its president, Gianni Infantino. The statement addresses increasing pressure on Infantino, particularly from within Uefa and various European football associations.
The governing body’s statement follows a report which alleged Infantino’s former partner received a severance payment from Uefa after an alleged relationship while he served as its general secretary. Fifa has stated that Infantino “strongly denies” these allegations, calling them “categorically untrue.”
Allegations and Organisational Response
Fifa has directly challenged what it terms “unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims,” emphasising that “speculation and insinuation should not be presented as fact.” The organisation asserts that any suggestion of inappropriate conduct or violation of regulations is defamatory. Fifa also stated that repetition does not make an allegation true.
The controversy intensified after Uefa confirmed a “departure payment” was made to a female employee, along with covering fees for an MBA course. Uefa stated this payment was in line with regulations at the time. This confirmation came after reports indicated the woman received a six-figure sum following the alleged relationship with Infantino.
Infantino has faced growing opposition, largely stemming from Europe, concerning his proposed Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE). This plan involved creating a new company to manage commercial and ticketing rights, with a portion to be sold to a private investment firm. Uefa has expressed a loss of confidence in Infantino, and the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) president, Lise Klaveness, called for his resignation.
Uefa has maintained its threat to boycott Fifa events, indicating that assurances regarding the FFE plan not being revived have not been received. Despite the apology for the FFE proposal from Infantino and secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, Fifa has declared it will “no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process.”
Support and Democratic Mandate
Fifa reiterated that its president was democratically elected by its member associations and continues to operate with their mandate. The organisation’s statement highlights that those lacking support from Fifa‘s member associations should not attempt to achieve their objectives through “allegation, insinuation or misinformation” if they cannot do so via established democratic processes.
While opposition to Infantino is primarily concentrated in Europe, he has received significant backing from other regions. The Mexican Football Federation publicly supported Infantino, breaking ranks with its regional governing body, Concacaf. This stance aligns with a statement from Conmebol, South America’s governing body, which would reject any attempt to remove Infantino without a vote involving all 211 Fifa member countries.
Furthermore, the 54 nations of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) have unanimously expressed their support for Infantino. Fifa maintains that change can challenge established interests, but disagreement should not justify efforts to undermine the democratic mandate of its president or the institution he leads.
The organisation welcomes legitimate scrutiny but warns against distorting facts, amplifying unsubstantiated allegations, or manufacturing distractions designed to hinder progress. Fifa has stated it will directly and vigorously challenge any inaccurate or misleading reporting. The organisation’s responsibility, it asserts, is to its 211 member associations and global football, and it will not be diverted from strengthening the organisation and delivering for its members.
Pressure on Infantino has continued to build following the exposure and subsequent collapse of his plan to seek private investment for a company that would manage Fifa‘s competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups. Fifa has confirmed it will not accept any challenge to Infantino’s position before the election scheduled for next March.
Source: bbc.com
Adam Rutherford is a Senior Football Correspondent at News-UK. He spent his early career filing match reports across the North West. He focuses on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Manchester Metropolitan University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Manchester, he coaches a youth team and watches grassroots football. “Every transfer window hides a dozen real stories.”
