FIFA defends Infantino amid increased scrutiny over his time at UEFA due to allegations surrounding payments to women while at the organisation.
An investigation by The Daily Telegraph elucidated that Infantino, among other actions during his 16 years there, allegedly proposed the promotion of a woman with whom he maintained a romantic relationship.
UEFA itself confirmed the staff payments were in line with regulations current at the time, however noted that regulations have recently been updated since Infantino’s tenure.
The governing body has not denied further allegations that UEFA’s senior officials are now considering an investigation into Infantino’s tenure in order to ascertain the nature of any effect which Infantino’s relationship had upon decision-making procedures within UEFA.
FIFA maintains that Infantino’s critics have made claims of malpractice which may not be verifiable instead of utilizing the formal procedures for removal established at democratic institutions. “There is an ongoing and concentrated effort from certain parties to discredit FIFA and its president,” is what FIFA asserted.
The proposed controversial sale by Infantino of the World Cup commercial rights to private entities has already provoked a boycott of FIFA competitions by UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC.
