Fifa President Gianni Infantino faces mounting pressure from Uefa and European football associations over aborted plan.

FIFA has strongly criticized what it calls a “concerted and ongoing effort” to undermine its organization and President Gianni Infantino. The statement follows a Daily Telegraph report alleging an affair with Infantino’s alleged lover, resulting in a severance payment from UEFA after the affair took place while he was general secretary.

As criticism heats up, FIFA has strongly denied these allegations, stating they are categorically untrue. They have warned that “speculation and insinuation should not be presented as fact,” adding that “unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims” will not be tolerated.

FIFA says the President was democratically elected by its Member Associations and continues to serve with their mandate.

Opposition is not uniform, however. The Mexican Football Federation broke ranks with Concacaf to support Infantino, as did South America’s governing body Conmebol, echoing a statement rejecting any attempt to remove Infantino without a vote involving all 211 FIFA member countries. Furthermore, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) stands in solid backing for Infantino amid the crisis.

What is the FFE proposal and why does it matter?

The aborted Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan proposed a new company to manage commercial and ticketing rights. With 21% sold off to private investment, this proposal caused significant backlash from Uefa and other European entities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does FIFA deny these allegations?

FIFA maintains the allegations are false and categorically denies them, emphasizing no support for unfounded claims or speculation against its President Gianni Infantino.

What kind of support is Infantino receiving from allies?

In addition to backing from Conmebol and CAF, Mexico’s Football Federation has also broken ranks with regional Concacaf to stand by the FIFA President. The Mexican Federation released a statement supporting Infantino amid growing criticism.