FIFA Boss Gianni Infantino Is DENYING Allegations UEFA Paid Off His Alleged Lover — And The Timing Could NOT Be Worse

Stop what you're doing, because the FIFA drama just got MESSIER.

Gianni Infantino, the man who runs world football, is facing explosive allegations that his former employer UEFA paid off a woman he allegedly had an affair with — and it's all coming out at literally the worst possible time for him. Yes, really.

The Tea ☕

• The Daily Telegraph is reporting UEFA paid a six-figure sum to a woman allegedly in a relationship with Infantino while he was their general secretary
• Infantino "strongly denies" the allegations and calls them "categorically untrue"
• But UEFA has CONFIRMED a payment was made — they say it was legit severance and MBA course fees
• This is all happening while Infantino is already fighting for his job over a failed World Cup investment scandal

Wait, What Exactly Is Being Alleged?

According to The Daily Telegraph's investigation, UEFA — European football's governing body — allegedly made a six-figure payment to a woman who was in a relationship with Infantino during his time as general secretary there from 2009 to 2016.

The married FIFA president is not having it. A spokesman told the Telegraph that Infantino "strongly denies these categorically untrue allegations" and that any suggestion of "inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes or regulations is defamatory."

The statement added: "No employee at UEFA and FIFA has ever raised a complaint regarding Mr Infantino's behaviour because there never was an incident where he was involved."

But UEFA Just Confirmed They DID Pay Her

Here's where it gets interesting. UEFA told Sky Sports News they ARE aware of the allegations and confirmed "a departure payment was made to the individual in question."

The payment covered severance PLUS fees for an MBA course at a local business school, UEFA said in a statement.

They insist everything was above board: "The payment was in line with the regulations that existed for departing staff at the time."

UEFA added that their staff regulations "have been tightened since 2016" and now "reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organisation." (Translation: things were... looser back then? 👀)

And Then It Got SO Much Worse

If this was happening in isolation, it would be bad enough. But Infantino is ALREADY in the middle of the biggest crisis of his tenure as FIFA president.

He's facing calls to resign after his disastrous attempt to sell off 21% of the World Cup's commercial and ticketing business to a private equity firm — a company linked to the brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, according to BBC Sport.

The backlash was so fierce that the plan was scrapped, and Infantino had to apologize for "errors." But he refused to step down after getting backing from senior executives at a meeting in Morocco on Wednesday.

Now UEFA is threatening to BOYCOTT FIFA tournaments unless certain conditions are met. European teams are not playing around.

Meanwhile, South American confederation Conmebol and the Confederation of African Football are backing Infantino. As are Mexico and Argentina's football associations.

So basically, it's Europe versus everyone else — and these new allegations are only going to make that divide worse.

The Life Of A FIFA President

The timing of this investigation is chef's kiss level dramatic, because it comes as questions swirl about Infantino's lifestyle and priorities.

BBC Sport reports that the 56-year-old travels in "a cavalcade of blacked out Mercedes, flanked by police cars" and uses a Qatar Airways Executive jet for his global travels.

His salary? About £4 million a year — nearly triple what he earned when he was first elected in 2016. That's a £2.2m base salary plus an £1.8m bonus. Plus a £20,500 "per diem" for expenses.

For context, his predecessor Sepp Blatter earned £2.6m in his final year.

Critics say Infantino has gotten too cozy with politicians — especially Trump — and that he's running FIFA like an "autocratic project." In May 2025, he showed up TWO HOURS LATE to a FIFA Congress because he was on a diplomatic tour of the Middle East with Trump.

He also gave Trump a "FIFA Peace Prize" weeks before the US invaded Venezuela. (Yes, really.)

The Bottom Line

Whether or not these affair allegations are true, one thing is crystal clear: Gianni Infantino is under more pressure than ever before.

UEFA has confirmed a payment was made. Infantino denies any wrongdoing. And meanwhile, the biggest confederation in football is threatening to boycott his tournaments.

Something's gotta give — and we have a feeling this story is FAR from over. 🍿

Do you think Infantino should resign, or is this all just a European power play? Drop your take in the comments.

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Sources:

• BBC Sport: Infantino denies claims Uefa paid off alleged 'lover'
• Sky Sports: UEFA aware of allegation it paid off an alleged mistress of FIFA president
• BBC Sport: Politicians, private jets and power - the life of a Fifa president