FIFA accuses UEFA of smear campaign against President Infantino

FIFA has formally accused UEFA of orchestrating a coordinated campaign to undermine the organization and its president, Gianni Infantino. The accusation follows a report from the Daily Telegraph alleging that UEFA made a six-figure severance payment, plus £45,000 in MBA fees, to a former staff member with personal ties to Infantino during his time as UEFA’s general secretary. The allegations and FIFA’s response The Daily Telegraph’s report centered on payments UEFA allegedly made to a former employee connected to Infantino, who served as UEFA’s general secretary from 2009 to 2016 before ascending to the FIFA presidency. UEFA confirmed the payments, which included both a six-figure severance package and the £45,000 MBA contribution. Infantino’s response was unambiguous. He labeled the allegations “categorically untrue” and defamatory, while FIFA broadened the counterattack by pointing at unnamed critics it strongly implied were UEFA-aligned. The $4.2B deal that blew up In July 2026, FIFA proposed selling a 20% stake in a new commercial venture tied to World Cup rights. The deal valued the operation at $4.2 billion. Multiple confederations pushed back hard. UEFA threatened a boycott....