In brief
FIFA has blasted accusations that aim to undermine its president Gianni Infantino, calling them a "concerted and ongoing effort" to sabotage the organisation. The backlash comes after a Telegraph report alleging that Infantino’s former partner received a severance payment from UEFA during a prior affair. FIFA’s statement dismisses the allegations as categorically false and demands that any criticism be based on factual evidence. The chief has already faced pressure from UEFA and several national federations over his FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which was abandoned after losing confidence. Despite strong opposition from some European football bodies, Infantino retains backing from Mexico, CAF and Conmebol, with FIFA urging a democratic resolution.
FIFA has strongly criticised what it calls a "concerted and ongoing effort" to undermine the organisation and its president Gianni Infantino.
The statement follows a Daily Telegraph report which claimed Infantino's alleged lover was given a severance payment by UEFA after he had an affair while serving as its general secretary.
A FIFA spokesperson told the Telegraph Infantino "strongly denies" the allegations and that they are "categorically untrue".
FIFA has hit out at "unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims," noting that speculation and insinuation should not be presented as fact.
Infantino has come under increasing pressure from UEFA and European football associations over his aborted Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which would have created a new company to manage commercial and ticketing rights, with 21% sold to a private investment firm.
UEFA has lost confidence in Infantino, and Norwegian Football Federation president Lise Klaveness called on the Swiss‑Italian to resign.
European football's governing body says its threat to boycott FIFA events remains on the table, adding that assurances the FFE plan could not be revived have not been received.
"The FIFA president was democratically elected by FIFA's Member Associations and continues to serve with their mandate," FIFA said in its statement on Saturday.
"It is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its president. 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," it added.
Opposition to Infantino is largely from within Europe.
The Mexican Football Federation broke ranks with its regional governing body Concacaf to support Infantino, and Conmebol echoed a statement that it would reject any attempt to remove Infantino without a vote involving all 211 FIFA member countries.
Infantino is also unanimously backed by the 54 nations of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
In a separate meeting, Infantino also called members of the FIFA management board to a session in Rabat, Morocco, and clarified that FIFA will no longer tolerate attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process.
While FIFA welcomes legitimate scrutiny, the organisation insists it is not a licence to distort facts or manufacture distractions aimed at undermining progress.
