Fifa president Gianni Infantino has denied allegations that Uefa paid a six-figure settlement to a female employee said to have been his lover while he was Uefa general secretary. Uefa confirmed that it made a departure payment and paid MBA course fees, but said these were consistent with its staff rules at the time; Fifa described suggestions of wrongdoing as false and defamatory.

The report adds to pressure on Infantino amid opposition to his proposal for private investment in a company running Fifa competitions, including the World Cups. Infantino was Uefa general secretary from 2009 until his election as Fifa president in 2016, while Uefa says its rules on departure payments have since been tightened; it also maintains a potential boycott threat by its 55 members over the investment plan.