UEFA Confirms Severance Payment to Former Employee Amid Infantino Allegations

A simmering governance crisis at the highest levels of global football escalated this week as UEFA confirmed a six-figure departure payment was made to a former employee, following explosive allegations regarding her departure. The controversy centers on FIFA President Gianni Infantino's tenure as UEFA's general secretary between 2009 and 2016, a period that preceded his rise to the summit of world football.[1][2]

According to an investigation first published by The Telegraph, the payment was allegedly tied to an undisclosed relationship between Infantino and a junior staff member. The report claims the employee received a rapid promotion to a managerial role, accompanied by a 30 percent salary increase to approximately 160,000 Swiss francs ($198,000).[1][4]

The situation reportedly culminated in an ultimatum from then-UEFA President Michel Platini, leading to the employee's resignation. Upon her departure, UEFA allegedly provided a severance package worth at least six figures and covered the costs of an MBA program at a local business school, valued at roughly £45,000 ($60,000) per year. The funds were reportedly drawn from accounts earmarked for football development.[1][4][5]

UEFA has officially acknowledged the financial transaction. In a statement, the European governing body confirmed that a departure payment and MBA tuition fees were issued to the individual in question. However, they maintained the settlement strictly adhered to the staff regulations in place at the time, noting that internal rules have since been "tightened" to reflect modern organizational standards.[2][4][6]

Infantino and his representatives have mounted a fierce defense against the narrative. A FIFA spokesperson categorically rejected the claims, labeling any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or regulatory violations as entirely false and defamatory. The spokesperson further emphasized that neither UEFA nor FIFA had ever received a formal complaint regarding Infantino's behavior.[2][3][6]

The official stance from FIFA asserts that no such incident ever occurred during his 16-year tenure at the European organization. "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," the spokesperson stated, pushing back against the anonymous sources cited in the initial reports.[2][3]

This latest development arrives at a precarious moment for the FIFA President. Infantino is already navigating intense pushback over a recently shelved proposal to sell a multi-billion-dollar stake in FIFA's commercial operations to private investors. That plan drew threats of a boycott from UEFA and other continental confederations, exposing deep fractures in the sport's global leadership.[2][5]

With the 2027 FIFA presidential election on the horizon, the convergence of financial disputes and personal allegations has placed unprecedented pressure on Infantino's administration. As UEFA and other bodies demand greater accountability, the fallout from this severance payment revelation threatens to reshape the political landscape of international football.[2][5]