Zurich: FIFA has come forward to defend its president, Gianni Infantino, against what it perceives as a deliberate attempt to challenge his leadership of the global football organization. This defense follows a report by The Daily Telegraph, which raised questions about an exit payment made by UEFA to a female employee who worked with Infantino during his tenure as secretary general. According to United News of Bangladesh, UEFA acknowledged the 'departure payment' to the employee, affirming that it was in accordance with the regulations that were applicable at the time. Infantino, who served at UEFA for 16 years before his election as FIFA president, is now at the center of a controversy that FIFA claims is aimed at destabilizing his position. In a statement released on Saturday, FIFA accused Infantino's detractors of attempting to diminish his authority and oust him from his role without adhering to due process. The organization emphasized that efforts to undermine Infantino through allegations and misinfo rmation should not replace the democratic procedures established by FIFA. The statement further criticized the reports for containing 'unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims,' warning against presenting such information as factual. FIFA highlighted that while change may disrupt established interests, it does not justify efforts to challenge the democratic mandate of its president. Infantino has come under fire for his proposal to sell World Cup profits to private equity firms, a plan rejected by UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation. Despite receiving backing from FIFA's management board in Morocco, Infantino apologized for the proposal's process. However, UEFA maintained its threat to boycott FIFA competitions unless the plan was withdrawn, asserting that recent developments had not altered their stance. In response to the exit payment controversy, UEFA reiterated that the payment complied with the regulations in place at the time of the employee's departure. The organizat ion noted that its rules have since been revised to align with those of a modern, high-profile institution.
