FIFA has issued a statement defending its president, Gianni Infantino, against what it calls a "concerted and ongoing effort" to undermine his leadership of the organization.
The statement was released Saturday, a day after a report by British newspaper The Daily Telegraph raising questions about an exit package paid by UEFA to a female staffer who worked with Infantino when he was general secretary of European soccer’s governing body.
The Daily Telegraph claims a woman received a six-figure sum as a payoff from UEFA after an alleged love affair with Gianni Infantino. During their alleged relationship, Infantino would have promoted the woman, reports say.
While confirming the exit payment "was in line with the regulations that existed for departing staff at the time," UEFA said the rules had been tightened since 2016 and currently "reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organization."
Senior figures of UEFA have been considering an investigation into Infantino's time at UEFA to understand how the payments were made and whether the alleged relationship affected decision-making.
