Infantino faces fresh scrutiny over reported payout to alleged mistress at UEFA

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is at the center of another off-field controversy after The Telegraph reported on alleged payments to a woman he is said to have had a relationship with during his time as UEFA general secretary. According to the report, the woman, who worked at UEFA at the time, received a six-figure severance package after the relationship ended. While the relationship was ongoing, she was promoted to a senior managerial position and her salary was raised by 30 percent to 160,000 Swiss francs (€171,300). The Telegraph also claims that Michel Platini, then UEFA president, confronted Infantino about the affair. The conversation supposedly led to the woman resigning in exchange for the payout. Infantino then reportedly helped her land a job in a related sector, while UEFA paid for an MBA program estimated at around €52,520 per year. The story adds to the pressure on Infantino ahead of the next FIFA presidential election. His proposal to sell World Cup rights to commercial owners has already drawn criticism across the football community.