FIFA has released a statement in support of its president, Gianni Infantino, in response to what it describes as a deliberate and continuous attempt to undermine his leadership within the organization. The statement was issued on Saturday, following a report by The Daily Telegraph questioning a departure payment made by UEFA to a female staff member who had worked with Infantino during his tenure as the general secretary of European soccer’s governing body.
UEFA confirmed the existence of the departure payment, stating that it complied with the regulations in effect at that time. Infantino had a 16-year tenure at UEFA before assuming the role of FIFA president. The statement by FIFA on Saturday criticized Infantino’s detractors for their efforts to diminish his authority and push for his removal without proper procedures.
FIFA’s statement emphasized that certain reports contained unfounded allegations and demonstrably false statements that should not be presented as facts. The organization warned against using insinuations and misinformation to achieve objectives that cannot be attained through FIFA’s established democratic processes.
Infantino had faced criticism over his proposal to sell World Cup profits to private equity firms, a plan that was rejected by UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation. Despite receiving support from FIFA’s management board and issuing an apology for the process, UEFA maintained its threat to have its member countries boycott FIFA competitions until the plan was abandoned.
UEFA clarified that the exit payment made to the staff member followed the regulations applicable at the time but highlighted that the rules had been strengthened since 2016 to align with modern organizational standards. The organization stressed the importance of respecting the democratic mandate of FIFA’s president and the institution he leads amid disagreements and changes within the organization.