FIFA president Gianni Infantino has strongly denied allegations that UEFA made a severance payment to a woman with whom he allegedly had a relationship while he was general secretary of European football’s governing body.
The allegations were reported by the Daily Telegraph, which said UEFA paid the woman a six-figure sum during Infantino’s tenure at the organisation.
A spokesperson for Infantino told the newspaper that the FIFA president “strongly denies these categorically untrue allegations”.
“Any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes or regulations is defamatory,” the spokesperson said.
“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.”
Infantino, who is married, served as UEFA general secretary from 2009 to 2016 after joining the organisation in 2000.
UEFA confirmed that a departure payment was made to the woman in question but rejected any suggestion that the payment breached its rules.
The organisation said the payment also covered fees for the woman to complete an MBA course at a local business school. It said all payments were made in accordance with regulations in force at the time, although those rules have since been strengthened.
“[The regulations] reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organisation,” UEFA said.
The allegations come as Infantino faces mounting pressure over his leadership of FIFA following the collapse of plans to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
The 56-year-old has apologised for what he described as “errors” in the controversial proposals but has so far resisted calls to resign after receiving backing from senior FIFA executives at a meeting in Morocco on Wednesday.
Infantino became FIFA president in 2016, succeeding Sepp Blatter.
European teams have threatened to boycott FIFA events despite the investment plans being abandoned, arguing that certain conditions have not been met.
However, South American governing body CONMEBOL and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have backed Infantino.
The football associations of World Cup co-hosts Mexico and tournament runners-up Argentina have also expressed their support.
