FIFA Defends President Infantino Amidst ‘Concerted Effort’ to Undermine Leadership
ZURICH, Switzerland – FIFA has launched a robust defense of its president, Gianni Infantino, alleging a “concerted and ongoing effort” by unnamed critics to destabilize the global football governing body and its leader. This strong statement comes amidst fresh allegations concerning Infantino’s tenure as UEFA’s general secretary.
The controversy escalated following UEFA’s confirmation of a “departure payment” made to a female employee who was reportedly in a relationship with Infantino during his time at the European governing body. The British newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, reported that the woman received a six-figure sum, in addition to UEFA covering fees for an MBA course. UEFA maintains that the payment was “in line” with regulations applicable at the time.
A FIFA spokesperson, when contacted by the newspaper, asserted that Infantino “strongly denies these allegations, and they are categorically untrue.” However, FIFA’s response broadened significantly in a comprehensive statement released on Saturday.
The organization vehemently refuted what it termed “unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims,” suggesting that these allegations are strategically deployed to weaken Infantino’s authority and force his removal from office, bypassing FIFA’s established democratic processes.
FIFA: ‘Repetition does not make an allegation true’
“It is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its president,” FIFA declared in its statement. The governing body went on to criticize those who, lacking the support of FIFA’s member associations, resort to “allegation, insinuation or misinformation” to achieve their objectives, rather than engaging through legitimate democratic channels.
The statement underscored: “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.”
These recent developments coincide with a period of heightened tension for Infantino, who has faced mounting criticism, particularly concerning his aborted plan to commercialize World Cup profits through the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). This initiative was ultimately rejected by three continents, with UEFA emerging as a particularly vocal critic.
Earlier this week, UEFA indicated that its 55 member associations might consider boycotting FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, despite Infantino’s apology over the failed FFE proposal. Following a senior leadership meeting in Morocco on Wednesday, FIFA acknowledged that “mistakes were made” regarding the proposal but reiterated its “full support” for Infantino.
Infantino Retains Significant Support Outside Europe
Despite strong opposition from UEFA, Infantino continues to command substantial backing in other confederations. CONMEBOL, the South American governing body, explicitly stated it would not support any accelerated attempt to remove Infantino. Similarly, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee expressed its “unanimous support” for the FIFA president.
Conversely, Concacaf criticized Infantino over the private investor proposal, labeling it a “unilateral and egregious act of poor governance” and calling for a comprehensive review of his leadership. However, Mexico, a prominent member of Concacaf, publicly backed Infantino and his vision to “collectively continue developing football for the benefit of all 211 member associations.”
FIFA affirmed its commitment to defending its president and challenging reporting it deems inaccurate. “FIFA welcomes legitimate scrutiny. But scrutiny is not a licence to distort facts, amplify unsubstantiated allegations or manufacture distractions designed to undermine progress,” the statement read. “Where reporting is inaccurate or misleading, FIFA will challenge it directly and vigorously.”
The governing body concluded by asserting that its primary focus remains on its 211 member associations and its mission to make football “truly global,” vowing not to be diverted from this objective.
