UEFA paid a six-figure sum to a woman who allegedly had a relationship with Gianni Infantino while he was serving as the organisation’s general secretary, an investigation by The Telegraph has revealed.

The woman, who has not been named, was reportedly a junior employee when the alleged relationship began.

According to sources cited by The Telegraph, she was later promoted to a managerial position, receiving a reported 30 per cent pay rise that took her salary to around 160,000 Swiss francs (£147,000).

Her rise reportedly raised questions among colleagues within UEFA, with concerns over whether Infantino had used his position to advance her career.

The alleged relationship eventually came to the attention of then-UEFA president Michel Platini, who sources claim confronted Infantino and demanded that either he or the woman leave.

Following her departure, UEFA allegedly paid the woman a six-figure settlement and also funded an MBA programme at a business school, where fees were reportedly about £45,000 a year. Sources further claimed Infantino helped her secure another senior position after she left UEFA.

UEFA has confirmed that a departure payment was made and that it also covered the MBA fees, insisting both were permitted under the staff regulations in place at the time.

“Such regulations have been tightened since 2016 and the current staff regulations, which apply to all UEFA employees at whatever level, reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organisation,” a UEFA spokesman said.

FIFA, however, has rejected the allegations against its president.
“FIFA president Gianni Infantino strongly denies these allegations, and they are categorically untrue,” a spokesman said.

Infantino, who joined UEFA in 2000 before becoming FIFA president in 2016, is married to Leena Al Ashqar and has four daughters.

FKA/AM