The 56-year-old Swiss began working as a lawyer for UEFA, the governing body of European football, in 2000, and served as the organization’s general secretary from 2009 to 2016, when he won the FIFA presidential election.
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G. Infantino married former Lebanese Football Federation employee Leena Al Ashqar in 2001, with whom he has four daughters.
Despite this, according to The Telegraph, the official had an office affair in UEFA corridors and ensured the rapid career advancement of a female colleague, along with an annual salary of up to 170,000 euros. According to journalists, this was an open secret within the organization, and other employees reported the information to then UEFA president Michel Platini.
Soon the Frenchman summoned the subordinate to his office and gave an ultimatum – either dismiss the suspected lover or G. Infantino himself would leave the job.
It is claimed that a substantial six-figure severance package was agreed upon for the woman. Additionally, UEFA paid more than 50,000 euros for her studies at a prestigious business school. It is also added that G. Infantino, using his connections, found a new well-paid job for the former colleague.
The Telegraph received confirmation from UEFA that such payments were made to the suspected person, but the organization claims that at the time they complied with all its rules. Allegedly, the rules were later tightened.
Meanwhile, a FIFA press representative told British journalists on Friday that G. Infantino categorically denies all accusations and calls them fabrications.
“No UEFA or FIFA employee has ever complained about Mr. Infantino’s behavior because there was never any incident involving him. All actions related to employees within the organization, including severance and other payments, have always been approved by the relevant directors according to established rules,” said the FIFA representative.
G. Infantino, eager to pursue a new term as FIFA president, recently found himself at the center of another major scandal when he announced FIFA’s plans to sell part of the World Cup organizing rights to private investors. Almost the entire football world rose against these plans, demanding the Swiss’s resignation, and after an urgently convened meeting of allies in Morocco, he announced the withdrawal of the controversial idea.
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