Fifa rejects claims of campaign to remove President Infantino
Fifa has sharply criticised what it calls a coordinated effort to undermine the organisation and President Gianni Infantino after a Daily Telegraph report alleged a past affair-related payout. Infantino denies wrongdoing, while Uefa and several European federations have expressed loss of confidence in his leadership.
Fifa has strongly criticised what it describes as a "concerted and ongoing effort" to undermine both the organisation and its president, Gianni Infantino. The statement came after a Daily Telegraph report alleging that Uefa had paid a severance sum to a person Infantino was said to have had an affair with while serving as Uefa's general secretary.
A Fifa spokesperson told the newspaper that Infantino categorically denies the allegations, calling any suggestion of misconduct or rule violations defamatory. In its own statement issued on Saturday, Fifa condemned what it called unsubstantiated claims and demonstrably false assertions, saying speculation should not be treated as fact.
Pressure from Europe
Infantino has faced mounting pressure from Uefa and European football associations over his now-abandoned Fifa Forward Enterprise plan. The proposal would have created a new company to handle commercial and ticketing rights, with 21% of it sold to a private investment firm.
Uefa has said it no longer has confidence in Infantino, and Norwegian Football Federation president Lise Klaveness has called for him to step down. Uefa has also kept open the possibility of boycotting Fifa events, saying it has not received assurances that the enterprise plan could not be revived.
In its statement, Fifa stressed that its president was democratically elected and continues to serve with the backing of member associations, adding that those lacking such support should not try to achieve through allegations or misinformation what they cannot achieve through Fifa's official democratic procedures.
Opposition to Infantino appears concentrated largely within Europe. Mexico's football federation broke from its regional body, Concacaf, to back Infantino, echoing a statement from South America's Conmebol that any attempt to remove him without a vote of all 211 Fifa member nations would be rejected. Infantino also retains unanimous support from the 54 member nations of the Confederation of African Football.
