UEFA Paid Millions to Alleged Infantino Lover, Report Claims

UEFA paid a substantial sum to a woman allegedly involved in a relationship with Gianni Infantino during his tenure as secretary general, according to a report by The Telegraph. The payment, described as a six-figure sum, was made to facilitate her exit from the European football governing body.

Sources cited by The Telegraph suggest that Infantino allegedly promoted the woman during their relationship. The payment reportedly covered her departure from UEFA and included the cost of a master's degree in business administration at a local institution, valued at approximately £45,000 per year. After her departure, Infantino allegedly used his connections to help her secure a new position in a similar field.

The UEFA acknowledged to Sky Sports that a payment was made to an individual, stating it was part of the regulations in place at the time. They confirmed the payment covered her departure and fees for a business administration course. Infantino, who worked at UEFA from 2000 to 2016 before becoming FIFA president, is married with four children.

A spokesperson for FIFA stated that Infantino vehemently denies the accusations, calling them "categorically false" and "defamatory." The report also suggests that Michel Platini, the then-UEFA president, confronted Infantino about the situation, leading to an agreement for the woman to resign in exchange for compensation.

UEFA, currently led by Aleksander Čeferin, was the first confederation to reject Infantino's FIFA Forward Enterprise project. The investigation highlights concerns that UEFA funds, which could have been allocated to grassroots football, may have been diverted for this purpose.