FIFA Alleges ‘Concerted’ Effort to ‘Undermine’ Gianni Infantino

As Gianni Infantino continues to find himself engulfed by controversy and criticism, FIFA believes that its president is being unfairly targeted.

In a statement released Saturday, soccer’s international governing body reaffirmed its support for Infantino. In doing so, FIFA claimed “it is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its President,” although the organization didn’t specify who it believes is behind such efforts.

“Those who do not have the support of FIFA’s Member Associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through FIFA’s established democratic processes,” the statement, published to FIFA’s website, reads. “Recent reporting has included unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims concerning FIFA and its President. Speculation and insinuation should not be presented as fact, and repetition does not make an allegation true.”

FIFA’s statement appears to be in reference to a story published by The Telegraph on Friday, which alleged that UEFA “paid off an alleged lover” of Infantino’s when he was the organization’s general secretary. In a statement to The Telegraph, FIFA confirmed that a payment to the individual in question had been made, but positioned it as a severance package while noting that it has since “tightened” its regulations. FIFA also denied that Infantino had an affair with a junior employee, calling such claims “categorically untrue” and “defamatory.”

The allegations against Infantino mark the latest controversy involving the FIFA president following the conclusion of this summer’s World Cup.

In the aftermath of the tournament, it was revealed that Infantino was organizing a plan for FIFA to make stakes in its commercial and event operations—including the World Cups and Club World Cups—available for private investment. Infantino has since abandoned the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan following backlash from several governing bodies, including UEFA and Concacaf.

UEFA has taken an especially strong stand against Infantino, with its 55 federations unanimously voting to suspend its participation in FIFA tournaments—including World Cups—as it remains dissatisfied with the organization’s response. Last week, the European governing body for soccer reaffirmed its stance.

“UEFA’s associations were very clear about the conditions attached to the non-participation in FIFA competitions,” UEFA said in a statement. “First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn, and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again. These conditions have not been met.”

Similarly, Concacaf has called for a “comprehensive reckoning” of Infantino’s presidency, although one of its members, Mexico, recently backed the FIFA president. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani has largely been viewed as the likeliest challenger to potentially run against Infantino.

Meanwhile, FIFA has remained adamant in its support of Infantino, who is up for reelection in March 2027. In its statement Saturday, the organization said that while it “welcomes legitimate scrutiny,” it will not “facilitate or tolerate any process concerning the election of the FIFA President that is inconsistent with FIFA’s Statutes, democratic procedures and established governance framework.”