Source :- THE AGE NEWS
UEFA paid off an alleged mistress of Gianni Infantino while he was its general secretary, The Telegraph can disclose.
The woman received a six-figure sum after the alleged relationship with Infantino while he was a top official at European football’s governing body.
She is alleged to have been promoted by Infantino during their relationship. After she left, the football body is alleged to have paid for her to do an MBA at a business school.
Details of the alleged relationship come a week after the collapse of Infantino’s scheme to sell off stakes in the World Cup. It would have resulted in a group of investors controlling the commercial interests of FIFA’s top men’s and women’s competitions.
In a statement on Friday night, UEFA admitted a payment had been made and it was aware of the allegations the woman was in a relationship with Infantino. It said it had since “tightened” its regulations to “reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organisation”.
The admission comes after an investigation by The Telegraph that uncovered major concerns among senior figures at UEFA over Infantino’s conduct, which will add to the growing furore over his ongoing role as FIFA president.
He joined UEFA in 2000 and spent 16 years there before leaving to become head of the global governing body in February 2016.
It can now be revealed that the embattled FIFA president, who is married with four children, allegedly had a relationship with a junior employee while serving as general secretary of European football’s governing body.
The Telegraph investigation has spoken to colleagues and senior figures who allege Infantino ensured the woman left with a pay-off of at least six figures.
On Friday night, a FIFA spokesman said there had never been any complaints by employees about Infantino’s behaviour.
“FIFA president Gianni Infantino strongly denies these allegations, and they are categorically untrue. Any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes or regulations is defamatory,” the spokesman said.
“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. All company actions related to employees, including any departure and severance packages, have always been approved by the appropriate directors in accordance with all applicable regulations.”
The alleged use of UEFA funds took place while Infantino was its secretary, sources said, with the woman promoted to a management position while the alleged relationship was ongoing. He was challenged over the alleged affair by Michel Platini, UEFA’s then president, sources said, and it was agreed she would leave with a pay-off.
UEFA, which is among the football bodies calling for Infantino to step down from FIFA, also allegedly paid for the woman to attend business school that charged fees of about £45,000 a year as part of the deal.
The woman – whom The Telegraph has chosen not to name – was in an administrative position when their relationship began, but was subsequently promoted to a more lucrative managerial role, sources claim.
When she left, Infantino allegedly used his connections to secure a lucrative post for the woman, in a similar field.
He also secured her pay-off, diverting UEFA funds that could have been spent on grassroots football.
Regulations tightened
On Friday night, a UEFA spokesman confirmed the pay-off and insisted the organisation had since changed to become more modern.
“We are aware of the allegations and can confirm a departure payment was made to the individual in question, coupled with the payment of fees for an MBA course at a local business school. The payment was in line with the regulations that existed for departing staff at the time,” he said.
“Such regulations have been tightened since 2016 and the current staff regulations – which apply to all UEFA employees at whatever level – reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organisation.”
Infantino is said to have promoted his alleged lover, giving her an alleged pay rise of 30 per cent and a salary of about 160,000 Swiss francs (£147,000).
At the time he was responsible for a football empire overseeing the sport in 53 countries with revenues of about £1.2bn.
Infantino met his wife, Leena Al Ashqar, through football. She worked for the Lebanese Football Federation. They married in 2001 and have four daughters.
It is unclear whether Al Ashqar was aware of the alleged relationship. However, matters are said to have come to a head when Platini learned about it.
During inquiries, The Telegraph has spoken to multiple witnesses to the alleged liaison.
One well-placed source said: “He made a huge mistake and it almost cost him his career. People [within UEFA] were telling Platini, ‘You have to fire him’.”
Another insider added: “Platini challenged Gianni, saying something like ‘she or you?’ and Gianni said, ‘She will leave’, and she left.”
Multiple sources claim Platini told Mr Infantino that either he or the woman would have to leave.
Cash for grassroots football
On its website, UEFA boasts it spends money efficiently and ploughs the vast majority of its revenue back into the development of football.
“By keeping overheads to a minimum, 97.5 per cent of our net earnings go back into the game,” it says, adding that it provides “unprecedented financial support for every level of the football pyramid in Europe”.
UEFA is funded by fans paying for European competitions and its finances are used for a range of projects, including developing women’s and girls’ football, tackling discrimination, social and environmental sustainability initiatives, player education, transitioning former players into new careers and major infrastructure projects, including new stadiums and academies.
The business of the alleged affair casts a new complexion on Infantino’s subsequent rise to the top of football as FIFA president.
When Infantino joined UEFA in 2000 he was a lawyer and a low-profile figure before working his way up. Even after he secured the role of general secretary, he was known among UEFA staff for being the most approachable and down to earth of executives. He would readily attend parties with rank-and-file workers.
However, by the time the woman left UEFA, it appears his ambition had been cemented. In 2016, when Platini was ousted in a separate scandal, Infantino was put forward as UEFA’s preferred candidate to become FIFA president.
Infantino’s planned sell-off of the World Cup led to a revolt at UEFA. It voted 55-0 to boycott the next World Cup to help defeat Infantino’s plan. The governing body accused FIFA of trying to trade away football’s soul. The Concacaf nations in North and Central America followed UEFA’s lead in condemning the plan.
FIFA is a non-profit organisation which means, theoretically, money made from the competition is reinvested into football.
Infantino had already presided over a crisis-hit World Cup, which saw unprecedented ticket-price profiteering and the “suspended suspension” of Folarin Balogun, the US forward, after lobbying from Donald Trump.
However, Infantino has told his inner circle he has no plans to quit, having met senior staff in Morocco this week and allegedly appealed to Trump for support.
Platini declined to comment when contacted by The Telegraph.
Telegraph, London
