Fifa has issued a new statement alleging there is a “concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine Fifa and its president” as pressure increases on Gianni Infantino.
The governing body issued the statement in response to Uefa confirming on Saturday that a “departure payment” was made to a female employee who is alleged to have been in a relationship with Infantino while he was the organisation’s general secretary – allegations Fifa dismissed as “categorically untrue”.
The Daily Telegraph reported on Friday night that the woman received a six-figure sum following the alleged relationship with Infantino. In a statement, Uefa confirmed a payment was made along with covering the fees for an MBA course, which it said was “in line” with regulations at the time.
Fifa told the Telegraph that “any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes or regulations is defamatory”, and late on Saturday issued a new, broader statement attacking Infantino’s critics.
A Fifa spokesperson said: “The Fifa president was democratically elected by Fifa’s member associations and continues to serve with their mandate. 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. 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.”
Defending Infantino as a leader who has “dedicated more than 30 years of his professional life to European and world football”, the statement added: “Fifa welcomes legitimate scrutiny. But scrutiny is not a licence to distort facts, amplify unsubstantiated allegations or manufacture distractions designed to undermine progress.
“Where reporting is inaccurate or misleading, Fifa will challenge it directly and vigorously. Fifa’s responsibility is to its 211 member associations and to football around the world. We will not be distracted or diverted from strengthening the organisation, delivering for our member associations and continuing the work of making football truly global.”
Pressure has continued to mount on Infantino after the exposure and collapse of his plan to seek private investment in a company which would run Fifa’s competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups. Fifa has said it will not accept any challenge to Infantino’s position before the election next March.
Uefa’s threat that its 55 member countries could boycott Fifa competitions remains in place, with the European confederation saying on Thursday that the withdrawal of the scheme “changes nothing”.
