UEFA has confirmed it made a severance payment and funded an MBA for a former employee alleged to have been in a relationship with Gianni Infantino during his tenure as general secretary. The European football body acknowledged the departure payment and business school fees but maintained the settlement complied with regulations in place at the time, which have since been tightened.
An investigation alleges the woman received a six-figure sum and was personally promoted by Infantino to a senior role before then-UEFA president Michel Platini reportedly issued an ultimatum over the situation. Infantino, who worked at UEFA from 2000 until 2016, has categorically denied the allegations through a FIFA spokesperson, calling them untrue.
The claims emerge as Infantino faces scrutiny over his leadership and aborted plans to sell World Cup stakes to private investors.