FIFA issued a statement late Saturday warning of what it described as a 'concerted and ongoing effort' to undermine the organization and its president, Gianni Infantino, as a dispute over a failed plan to create a subsidiary for the men's World Cup — with up to a 20% stake offered to external investors — continued to generate opposition from governing bodies, national associations, and senior officials.
FIFA warns of effort to 'undermine' organization and president Infantino amid leadership dispute
FIFA issued a statement late Saturday warning of what it described as a 'concerted and ongoing effort' to undermine the organization and its president, Gianni Infantino, as a dispute over a failed plan to create a subsidiary for the men's World Cup — with up to a 20% stake offered to external investors — continued to generate opposition from governing bodies, national associations, and senior officials.
The proposed investment structure drew criticism from UEFA, which threatened to boycott future World Cups, and prompted calls for Infantino's resignation from several quarters. Amid the controversy, Infantino secured a statement of full support from FIFA's Board of Management at a crisis meeting held in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday.
Pressure on Infantino increased further on Friday when the British newspaper the Daily Telegraph reported that a six-figure sum had been paid to a female employee who was allegedly in a relationship with him during his tenure as UEFA general secretary. UEFA confirmed that a departure payment had been made and that it had also funded an MBA course for the individual, stating both were in accordance with regulations at the time.
A FIFA spokesman told the Telegraph: 'FIFA president Gianni Infantino strongly denies these allegations, and they are categorically untrue.' FIFA's Saturday statement, without directly referencing the Telegraph report, said 'recent reporting has included unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims concerning FIFA and its President.'
The fallout from the shelved investment plan has coincided with Infantino's pursuit of a fourth term as FIFA president. Following the Rabat meeting, UEFA stated it no longer has confidence in him, and Norwegian Football Federation President Lise Klaveness called for his resignation.
Despite the opposition, Infantino retains support among a portion of FIFA's membership. The Confederation of African Football unanimously backed his leadership, and South American governing body CONMEBOL opposed any attempt to remove him outside a vote of all member associations.
FIFA said in its statement that those who lacked the support of member associations should not seek to achieve through 'allegation, insinuation or misinformation' what they could not achieve through FIFA's established democratic processes.
- The identity of the former female employee is not established in the source, nor is her account or response to the reported payment and allegations.
- The specific senior FIFA officials who criticized the investment plan or called for resignation are not named.
- The national associations beyond UEFA and the Norwegian FA that opposed the investment plan are not identified.
- The precise mechanism and timeline of the shelved investment plan are not detailed.
- The source does not clarify the current status of the fourth-term presidential election or its scheduled date.
- No response from the female employee at the center of the Telegraph report is included.
Read the original at Deutsche Welle