Fifa criticises campaign to undermine organisation and president Infantino
Fifa has issued a strong criticism against what it describes as a “concerted and ongoing effort” to “undermine” the organisation and its president, Gianni Infantino. This statement follows a report regarding an alleged payment made by Uefa to an individual while Infantino served as its general secretary. Fifa has stated that Infantino “strongly denies” these allegations, calling them “categorically untrue.”
Fifa has further asserted that “unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims” are being made, adding that “speculation and insinuation should not be presented as fact.” The organisation indicated that it would challenge inaccurate or misleading reporting directly and vigorously.
Allegations and Uefa’s Response
Uefa has confirmed its awareness of an allegation concerning a payment made to an individual. This payment reportedly occurred while Infantino was serving as general secretary for Uefa, a role he held from 2000 until 2016, when he transitioned to his current position at Fifa. According to reports, the individual received a sum and had fees for an MBA course at a local business school paid by Uefa after their departure.
Uefa stated that a departure payment was made to the individual, along with the payment of fees for an MBA course. The organisation clarified that this payment was consistent with the regulations for departing staff at the time. These regulations, Uefa noted, have since been tightened following 2016, with current staff regulations reflecting those typically found in modern, high-profile organisations.
A Fifa spokesperson, in response to the allegations, stated that Infantino “strongly denies these allegations, and they are categorically untrue.” The spokesperson added that any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes or regulations is considered defamatory. Furthermore, the spokesperson noted that all company actions related to employees, including any departure and severance packages, have consistently been approved by appropriate directors in line with applicable regulations.
Opposition and Support for Infantino
Infantino has faced increasing pressure, particularly from Uefa and various European football associations, concerning his proposed Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE). This proposal would have involved a private investment company purchasing 21% of a new entity created to manage commercial and ticketing rights. Uefa has indicated a loss of confidence in Infantino, and Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) president Lise Klaveness called for his resignation on a Friday.
The threat from European football’s governing body to boycott Fifa events reportedly remains active, as assurances that the FFE plan would not be revived have not been received. Despite this, Fifa released a statement affirming that its president was democratically elected by its member associations and continues to operate with their mandate. The organisation suggested that those lacking support from Fifa’s member associations should not attempt to achieve their goals through “allegation, insinuation or misinformation” instead of through established democratic processes.
Opposition to Infantino primarily originates from within Europe. However, the Mexican Football Federation has publicly supported Infantino, diverging from its regional governing body, Concacaf. The Mexican federation echoed a statement from Conmebol, South America’s governing body, by indicating it would reject any attempt to remove Infantino without a vote involving all 211 Fifa member countries. Additionally, the Confederation of African Football (Caf), comprising 54 nations, has unanimously backed Infantino.
Fifa held a meeting of its management board members in Rabat, Morocco, on a Wednesday. Following this meeting, Fifa issued a statement on behalf of Infantino and secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, which included an apology for the FFE proposal. The statement also conveyed that Fifa would not tolerate attacks on its integrity, governance, and due process. A subsequent statement issued late on a Saturday evening reiterated a defensive stance against the criticism the organisation has encountered.
The organisation acknowledged that “change inevitably challenges established interests,” but maintained that disagreement with such change does not justify efforts to undermine the democratic mandate of Fifa’s president or the institution he was elected to lead. Fifa welcomes legitimate scrutiny, but asserts that scrutiny does not provide a license to distort facts, amplify unsubstantiated allegations, or create distractions designed to impede progress. The organisation concluded that it would challenge inaccurate or misleading reporting directly and vigorously.
Infantino strongly denies the allegations made against him.
Source: bbc.com
