08/08/26 08:16:00
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08/08 20:14 CDT FIFA defends Infantino against allegations tied to his time at
UEFA
FIFA defends Infantino against allegations tied to his time at UEFA
LONDON (AP) --- FIFA has issued a statement defending its president, Gianni
Infantino, against what it calls a "concerted and ongoing effort" to undermine
his leadership of the organization.
The statement was released Saturday, a day after a report by British newspaper
The Daily Telegraph raising questions about an exit package paid by UEFA to a
female staffer who worked with Infantino when he was general secretary of
European soccer's governing body.
UEFA confirmed that a "departure payment" was made to the employee and said it
was "in line" with regulations at the time.
Infantino worked at UEFA for 16 years before being elected FIFA president.
In the statement Saturday, FIFA accused Infantino's critics of trying to weaken
his authority and remove him from office without due process.
"It is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by
some to undermine FIFA and its president," the FIFA statement said. "Those who
do not have the support of FIFA's member associations should not seek to
achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot
achieve through FIFA's established democratic processes."
It said some reporting has included "unsubstantiated assertions and
demonstrably false claims" which shouldn't be presented as fact.
"Change inevitably challenges established interests, but disagreement with that
change cannot justify efforts to undermine the democratic mandate of FIFA's
president or the institution he was elected to lead."
Infantino faced intense backlash after details of his plan to sell World Cup
profits to private equity were published. UEFA and two other continental
confederations --- North America's CONCACAF and the Asian Football
Confederation --- rejected the plan.
He did receive backing from FIFA's management board last Wednesday following a
meeting in Morocco, and he apologized over the process. UEFA's threat to have
its 55 member countries boycott FIFA competitions until the plan was scrapped
remained, with UEFA saying Thursday that the announcement "changes nothing."
While confirming the exit payment "was in line with the regulations that
existed for departing staff at the time," UEFA said the rules had been
tightened since 2016 and currently "reflect those found in a modern,
high-profile organization."
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