FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces fresh scrutiny following reports that UEFA paid a six-figure severance package and covered MBA tuition fees for a former female employee who worked under him during his tenure as UEFA general secretary. The European governing body confirmed the payouts in response to inquiries from the German news agency dpa and the British newspaper The Telegraph, which first detailed the departure.
The financial arrangements date back to late 2011, when the employee left the continental organization. According to UEFA’s statement, the individual received a severance payout alongside funding for an MBA program at a local business school. The governing body stated that these payments aligned with the internal regulations enforced for departing staff members at that time.
UEFA emphasized that its personnel policies have since undergone significant revision. In 2016, the organization tightened its internal rules, establishing modern standards that apply equally to all employees regardless of their hierarchical position. During Infantino’s 16-year career at UEFA—which included serving as general secretary from 2009 until 2016—the employee in question transitioned quickly from an administrative role into a higher-paying leadership position, as reported by The Telegraph.
FIFA Denies Allegations and Defends Internal Procedures
FIFA issued a firm response to the media reports, categorizing the allegations as entirely untrue. A FIFA spokesperson told The Telegraph that any insinuation of inappropriate behavior or regulatory breaches is defamatory. The governing body maintained that all internal staffing actions, including departures and severance agreements, received proper approval from authorized directors in compliance with applicable regulations.
The scrutiny surrounding Infantino arrives shortly after a separate administrative controversy involving the FIFA leadership. Approximately two weeks prior to the UEFA severance disclosures, plans emerged to open the men’s FIFA World Cup to an external investor model. Those proposals drew swift condemnation from across the international football community.
Wider Repercussions Over Investment Proposals
The proposed World Cup investment model faced intense pushback from major confederations. UEFA notably threatened a unified boycott of the tournament if the private equity deal moved forward. Confronted with widespread resistance from national associations and continental bodies, Infantino abandoned the investor initiative just days after public details leaked.
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