FIFA defends Gianni Infantino against severance payment allegations, condemning 'false claims'

FIFA issued a firm defense of President Gianni Infantino following new allegations regarding an unannounced severance payment made by UEFA to a female staffer during his tenure as its general secretary.

Rejecting calls for his resignation from select European bodies—including Norway and UEFA—the global governing body asserted that Infantino maintains the democratic mandate of FIFA's 211 member associations and warned against attempts to unseat leadership outside statutory procedures.

In an official statement, FIFA condemned what it characterized as a concerted effort to undermine the organization through unsubstantiated claims and misinformation. While acknowledging that public scrutiny is legitimate, FIFA cautioned that it does not grant a license to distort facts, emphasizing strong backing from key confederations including CONMEBOL and CAF. The governing body affirmed its commitment to protecting its established governance framework and continuing its international development agenda without distraction.

(Inputs from IANS)