FIFA has released a statement in support of its president, Gianni Infantino, denouncing what they describe 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 given by UEFA to a female employee who previously worked with Infantino during his tenure as general secretary of European soccer’s governing body. UEFA confirmed the payment, labeling it as a “departure payment” and asserting its compliance with regulations at the time.
Infantino, who served at UEFA for 16 years before assuming the role of FIFA president, has been the target of criticisms aimed at weakening his position and prematurely removing him from office without proper procedure. FIFA’s statement emphasized that there are ongoing attempts to destabilize both the organization and Infantino’s authority.
The statement further criticized the reporting on this matter, highlighting the inclusion of unfounded claims and inaccuracies that should not be presented as truths. FIFA stressed that efforts to undermine the democratic process through baseless allegations and misrepresentation should not be tolerated.
Infantino faced significant backlash following the revelation of his proposal to sell World Cup profits to private equity investors. Despite opposition from UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC, Infantino received support from FIFA’s management board during a recent meeting in Morocco. He expressed regret for the handling of the proposal, and although UEFA threatened a boycott of FIFA competitions by its member countries until the plan was dropped, the stance remained unchanged.
While acknowledging that the exit payment adhered to regulations at the time, UEFA noted that its policies have since been updated to align with modern organizational standards. The organization emphasized the importance of abiding by current guidelines which reflect the practices of a reputable institution.