Infantino denies paying £3m to alleged mistress

Gianni Infantino has strongly denied claims that UEFA paid off an alleged mistress while he served as the European football governing body’s general secretary from 2009 to 2016.

The allegations surfaced again this week after reports in German media revived questions about Infantino’s time at UEFA. German broadcaster ARD claimed that a woman received a seven-figure settlement from UEFA in 2016, just before Infantino became the organization’s president. The woman, identified only as “L,” had accused Infantino of sexual misconduct. Infantino has repeatedly dismissed the allegations as false and baseless.

The controversy matters because Infantino now leads FIFA, the world’s most powerful football body, and his reputation is under scrutiny. FIFA has faced years of criticism over corruption and ethical lapses, and Infantino’s presidency has revived debates about transparency in the sport’s leadership. In 2020, Infantino survived an ethics investigation by FIFA’s own watchdog after Swiss authorities probed his relationship with a woman linked to FIFA’s legal department. He was cleared of wrongdoing, but questions about his conduct persist.

UEFA has not publicly commented on the latest allegations. Infantino has dismissed them as “slander” and insists he has always acted with integrity. The episode raises fresh doubts about leadership in football’s top ranks just months before the next UEFA and FIFA elections. If the claims resurface during campaigning, they could further erode trust in the sport’s governance. Football’s governing bodies have promised reform, but scandals keep returning.