FIFA has released a statement in support of its president, Gianni Infantino, in response to what it deems a coordinated effort to undermine his leadership within the organization. The statement, issued on Saturday, follows a report from The Daily Telegraph questioning a departure payment made by UEFA to a female employee who had previously worked with Infantino during his tenure as the general secretary of European soccer’s governing body.
UEFA acknowledged the payment to the employee, stating that it was compliant with regulations at the time. Infantino, who had a 16-year tenure at UEFA before assuming the role of FIFA president, has come under fire from critics seeking to diminish his authority and potentially remove him from office without proper procedures.
The FIFA statement condemned these actions, asserting that there is a deliberate attempt by certain parties to undermine both the organization and its president. It emphasized that individuals lacking support from FIFA’s member associations should not resort to unfounded allegations, insinuations, or misinformation to achieve their objectives.
The statement also criticized some media reports for containing unverified claims and falsehoods presented as factual information. Infantino previously encountered backlash over his proposal to privatize World Cup profits, which was rejected by UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC. Despite facing opposition, Infantino received backing from FIFA’s management board and issued an apology for the handling of the proposal.
UEFA, maintaining its stance on potential boycotts of FIFA competitions, clarified that the exit payment to the employee was compliant with regulations at the time but noted that rules have since been updated to align with modern organizational standards. The ongoing debate surrounding Infantino’s leadership and proposed changes reflects the challenges of implementing reforms within established structures, with FIFA emphasizing the importance of upholding democratic processes and respecting the mandate of its elected officials.