On Saturday, August 8, 2026, FIFA publicly condemned what it described as "a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine" the organization and its president, Gianni Infantino. The statement came amid controversy surrounding Infantino's now-abandoned plan to open the World Cup to private investors.

Infantino, who served as secretary general of European football's governing body UEFA from 2009 to 2016, has faced calls to resign following allegations reported by a British newspaper. The report claimed Infantino paid off a lover during his UEFA tenure and used his influence to secure a promotion for a UEFA employee with whom he had an intimate relationship. The employee reportedly received a "six-figure sum" upon departure, alongside tuition fees for an MBA course at a local business school amounting to approximately £45,000 (US$60,700).

UEFA confirmed to AFP that a departure payment and MBA tuition fees were indeed paid to the individual in question.

FIFA's statement criticized recent reporting as containing "unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims concerning FIFA and its President." It emphasized that scrutiny should not be a license to distort facts or amplify unsubstantiated allegations and pledged to challenge inaccurate or misleading reports vigorously.

Regarding the upcoming FIFA presidential election, FIFA declared it "will not support, facilitate or tolerate any process concerning the election of the FIFA President that is inconsistent with FIFA's Statutes, democratic procedures and established governance framework." The organization urged that those lacking support from FIFA's Member Associations should not attempt to achieve their aims through allegations or misinformation instead of established democratic processes.

Infantino is standing for re-election in March 2027.

Sources