FIFA has released a statement in support of its president, Gianni Infantino, in response to what it describes as a coordinated effort to undermine his leadership within the organization. The statement was issued on Saturday, following a report by The Daily Telegraph questioning a severance package paid by UEFA to a female employee who had worked with Infantino during his tenure as the general secretary of European soccer’s governing body.
UEFA confirmed the payment made to the employee upon her departure and asserted that it complied with the regulations in effect at the time. Infantino had a 16-year tenure at UEFA before assuming the role of FIFA president.
In its statement, FIFA criticized those critical of Infantino for attempting to diminish his authority and remove him from office without proper procedural steps. The statement highlighted that certain reports contained baseless claims and misinformation, cautioning against presenting such unfounded assertions as facts.
FIFA emphasized the importance of respecting the democratic processes within the organization and cautioned against efforts to undermine the mandate of the president. Infantino had faced backlash over his proposal to involve private equity in World Cup profits, a plan that was rejected by UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC. 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.
While acknowledging that the exit payment adhered to regulations applicable at the time, UEFA noted that the rules had been revised since 2016 to align with contemporary standards expected in a prominent organization.