"Uefa Allegedly Paid Gianni Infantino's Alleged Lover Six-Figure Sum During His Tenure"

UEFA paid off a six-figure sum to an alleged mistress of Gianni Infantino while he was its general secretary, it has been reported.

The woman received the after their supposed relationship with the 56-year-old – while he was a top official at European football’s governing body, according to The Telegraph .

Gianni Infantino, seen here in 2022, is claimed to have promoted his alleged mistress while he was at Uefa, handing her a 30 per cent pay rise Credit: PA Michel Platini, seen here with Infantino in 2015, is said to have challenged his then colleague at Uefa about his alleged affair Credit: Getty

She is also alleged to have been promoted by the under-fire boss during their relationship.

Senior figures at claim the married dad-of-four ensured the woman left with the pay-off.

And after she left, the body is understood to have paid for her to do an MBA at a business school.

In a statement on Friday night, Uefa admitted that a payment had been made and that it was aware of the allegations the woman was in a relationship with Infantino.

Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin and Infantino in August this year. Uefa’s vote helped scupper the World Cup plans the Fifa President had Credit: PA Infantino is thought to have appealed to Donald Trump for support. Credit: Getty

It said it had since “tightened” its regulations to “reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organisation”.

Infantino joined Uefa in 2000 and spent 16 years there before leaving to become Fifa president in February 2016.

A Fifa spokesperson said: ““Fifa president strongly denies these allegations, and they are categorically untrue.

“Any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes or regulations is defamatory.

“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.

“All company actions related to employees, including any departure and severance packages, have always been approved by the appropriate directors in accordance with all applicable regulations.”

The alleged use of Uefa funds happened while Infantino was its general secretary, sources claimed and the woman was allegedly promoted to a management position while the relationship was taking place.

Uefa’s then president Michel Platini is said to have challenged him over the alleged affair and it was agreed she would leave with a pay-off.

As well as the pay-off it also forked out for the woman to take an MBA course at a business school which charged around £45,000 per year in fees, as part of the deal.

Sources also claimed that when the woman left, Infantino allegedly used his connections to secure a new lucrative post for the woman in a similar field.

A spokesman for Uefa said: “We are aware of the allegations and can confirm a departure payment was made to the individual in question, coupled with the payment of fees for an MBA course at a local business school.

“The payment was in line with the regulations that existed for departing staff 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.”

Infantino, it is claimed, promoted his alleged lover, handing her a 30 per cent pay rise and a salary of around £147,000.

Her rapid rise is said to have raised eyebrows among colleagues and concerns he could be abusing his position to advance her.

During his time at Uefa he oversaw a footballing empire which had revenues of around £1.2billion and covered the game in 53 countries.

Infantion met his wife when she was working for the Lebanese Football Federatoin.

The pair married in 2001 and have four children.

It is not known if his wife was aware of the alleged relationship.

Matters are said to have come to a head when Platini learned about it, reports say.

A well-placed source told The Telegraph: “He made a huge mistake and it almost cost him his career.

“People [within Uefa] were telling Platini, ‘You have to fire him’.”

Another added: “Platini challenged Gianni, saying something like ‘she or you?’ and Gianni said, ‘She will leave’, and she left.”

Sources also claimed that Platini told Infantino that either he or the woman would have to leave.

The revelations come just a week after the , which he announced nine days after the end of the World Cup.

The plan would have resulted in a group of investors controlling the commercial interests of Fifa’s top competitions for both men and women.

, voting 55-0 to boycott the next World Cup, a move which helped defeat the plan.

It accused Fifa of attempting to trade away football’s soul.

The Concacaf nations in North and Central America then followed Uefa’s lead and condemned the plan.

Fifa is a non-profit organisation which means in theory money made from the competition is ploughed back into football.

Infantino is said to have told his inner circle he has no plans to quit, having met senior staff in this week and he has allegedly appealed to US President for support.