Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, is facing mounting pressure amid growing scrutiny of his leadership. This comes after The Telegraph published a report detailing new allegations concerning his tenure at the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
According to the report, the events took place when Infantino served as UEFA General Secretary, prior to his election as FIFA president in 2016. Allegations center on the promotion and salary increase of a female staff member, which reportedly raised concerns within the organization.
Promotion and salary hike
The Telegraph reports that the employee, who held an administrative role, received a promotion that included a salary increase of approximately 30 percent, bringing her annual earnings to nearly 170,000 euros.
The newspaper noted that this decision caused friction and raised questions among some UEFA staff at the time, specifically regarding the influence Infantino reportedly exerted during the promotion process and the negotiation of her financial terms.
Infantino’s confrontation with Platini
According to the account provided by The Telegraph, the matter escalated within UEFA and eventually reached the then-president, Michel Platini, who intervened to address the situation.
Sources cited by the newspaper claim the situation led to a direct confrontation between Platini and Infantino, stemming from their disagreement over how the employee’s case and her promotion were handled.
Resurfacing allegations
The report suggests the matter extended beyond the employee’s time at UEFA. The Telegraph alleges that Infantino later assisted the same individual in securing a new position at another sports organisation, reportedly leveraging his professional network within football.
These claims arrive as Infantino faces increasing criticism regarding his management of FIFA, most notably the recent controversy surrounding his commercial plans to sell a stake in World Cup rights — a proposal that has drawn strong objections from both within and outside UEFA.
The Telegraph emphasises that its report details allegations and events from several years ago, noting the importance of distinguishing between these claims and facts that have been officially or judicially proven.
Featured image via the Canary
By Alaa Shamali
