FIFA has released a statement in support of its president, Gianni Infantino, denouncing what it describes as a coordinated attempt to undermine his leadership within the organization. The statement came out on Saturday, following a report by The Daily Telegraph questioning a severance package provided by UEFA to a female staff member who collaborated with Infantino during his tenure as the general secretary of European soccer’s governing body.
UEFA acknowledged making a “departure payment” to the employee, asserting it complied with the regulations at that time. Infantino served at UEFA for 16 years before assuming the role of FIFA president.
In its Saturday statement, FIFA criticized Infantino’s detractors for trying to weaken his authority and oust him from office without due process. The statement highlighted that there is a deliberate effort by some parties to undermine FIFA and its president, emphasizing that those lacking the backing of FIFA’s member associations should not resort to unfounded allegations or misinformation to achieve their objectives.
The statement condemned certain media reports for containing baseless assertions and provably false statements that should not be presented as facts. The controversy stemmed from Infantino’s proposal to sell World Cup profits to private equity, a move that faced strong opposition from UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation. Despite facing backlash, Infantino received support from FIFA’s management board and apologized for the handling of the proposal.
UEFA also clarified that while the exit payment made to the staff member was in compliance with the regulations in place at the time, the rules have since been revised to align with contemporary standards of a reputable organization. UEFA reiterated its stance on the matter, maintaining that the threat of its member countries boycotting FIFA competitions remains until the controversial plan is abandoned.