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Beleaguered FIFA president Gianni Infantino is under more pressure following a report that UEFA paid off an alleged mistress during his time as general secretary of the European governing body.<\/p>\n
The Telegraph<\/a> report comes after Infantino received some much-needed support, following more than a week of scathing criticism revolving around the now shelved private investment plan – FIFA said it could raise up to US$4.2 billion based on a valuation of US$20 billion for a new commercial subsidiary, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which it proposed would run events such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.<\/p>\n \ufeffGet all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n UEFA allegedly paid off the woman, a junior colleague who was promoted to a management position with a 30 per cent pay rise to salary of about 160,000 Swiss francs ($280,290) by Infantino during their alleged relationship, with a six-figure sum while Infantino was general secretary.<\/p>\n They are also said to have paid for her to complete an MBA at a business school and Infantino allegedly used his connections to get her a lucrative role in a similar field once she left the organisation.<\/p>\n UEFA, who have been at loggerheads with Infantino for some time but tensions have flared due to the botched private investment plan, admitted in a statement that a payment had been made and that the organisation was aware of the relationship allegations.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are aware of the allegations and can confirm a departure payment was made to the individual in question, coupled with the payment of fees for an MBA course at a local business school. The payment was in line with the regulations that existed for departing staff at the time,\u201d a UEFA spokesman said.<\/p>\n \u201cSuch regulations have been tightened since 2016 and the current staff regulations \u2013 which apply to all UEFA employees at whatever level \u2013 reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organisation.\u201d<\/p>\n Infantino spent 16 years at UEFA before becoming FIFA boss in 2016 and the 56-year-old Italian-Swiss lawyer turned football administrator is married with four children -he and Leena Al Ashqar, who worked for the Lebanese Football Federation, were wed in 2001.<\/p>\n Former colleagues told The Telegraph of the alleged workplace relationship.<\/p>\n \u201cHe made a huge mistake and it almost cost him his career. People [within UEFA] were telling [former UEFA president Michel] Platini, \u2018You have to fire him\u2019,\u201d a source said.<\/p>\n Another insider added: \u201cPlatini challenged Gianni, saying something like \u2018she or you?\u2019 and Gianni said, \u2018She will leave\u2019, and she left.\u201d<\/p>\n FIFA came to Infantino\u2019s defence, however.<\/p>\n \u201cFIFA president Gianni Infantino strongly denies these allegations, and they are categorically untrue. Any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes or regulations is defamatory,\u201d a spokesman said.<\/p>\n \u201cNo employee at UEFA and FIFA has ever raised a complaint regarding Mr Infantino\u2019s behaviour because there never was an incident where he was involved. All company actions related to employees, including any departure and severance packages, have always been approved by the appropriate directors in accordance with all applicable regulations.\u201d<\/p>\n The report places added pressure on Infantino to resign.<\/p>\n He has spent most of the last week trying to gain support from FIFA\u2019s office in Rabat, Morocco, which was only opened last year, before appearing at a presidential inauguration in Colombia.<\/p>\n Morocco will co-host the 2030 men\u2019s World Cup with Spain and Portugal, and Infantino is alleged to have promised the North African nation the World Cup final at the new 115,000 seat stadium being built in Casablanca in exchange for their support.<\/p>\n Morocco is also where next year\u2019s FIFA congress, where Infantino faces re-election, and is accused by The Telegraph of playing off current geopolitical tensions between Spain and Morocco heightened by migrants entering into Spanish territory last month.<\/p>\n A key element of Infantino\u2019s hold on power for the last decade has been his close relationship with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), who, along with the Mexican and Argentinian football federations, have shared their support for Infantino\u2019s re-election.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n \ufeffShock Infantino backer emerges… as brutal \u2018abuse of power\u2019 call reveal extent of FIFA crisis<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Whispers \u2014 Socceroo seals record deal after last-minute twist; veteran\u2019s A-League homecoming<\/a><\/b><\/i><\/p>\n UK View \u2014 \u2018Sycophants\u2019: Gun turns over FIFA furore as football\u2019s great hypocrisy laid bare<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n However, old ties have been cut loose.<\/p>\n UEFA on Thursday doubled down on last Saturday\u2019s statement saying it no longer has \u201cconfidence\u201d in Infantino.<\/p>\n Its reaction came in the wake of Infantino gaining the full support of senior FIFA directors — dismissed as those \u201cwhose careers depend on his favour\u201d — and UEFA repeated its threat of boycotting the World Cups.<\/p>\n UEFA\u2019s deployment last Thursday of the nuclear option of the boycott is said to have been pivotal in forcing Infantino to shelve the private investment deal.<\/p>\n A boycott would impact next month\u2019s FIFA U20 Women\u2019s World Cup and next year\u2019s Women\u2019s World Cup in Brazil.<\/p>\n