![\"FIFA](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-133061243,imgsize-52318,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/fifa-president-infantino.jpg\" "\\"FIFA")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFIFA has launched a strong defence of president Gianni Infantino, accusing unnamed critics of mounting a \u201cconcerted and ongoing effort\u201d to undermine the governing body and its president amid fresh allegations concerning his time at UEFA.The statement came after UEFA confirmed that a \u201cdeparture payment\u201d was made to a female employee who was allegedly in a relationship with Infantino when he was the European governing body\u2019s general secretary.Britain\u2019s Daily Telegraph reported that the woman received a six-figure sum, while UEFA also covered the fees for an MBA course. UEFA said the payment was \u201cin line\u201d with regulations at the time.A FIFA spokesperson told the newspaper that Infantino \u201cstrongly denies these allegations, and they are categorically untrue.\u201dFIFA went further in a lengthy statement on Saturday, hitting back at what it described as \u201cunsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims\u201d and suggesting that allegations were being used to weaken Infantino\u2019s authority and force him from office without following the organisation\u2019s democratic processes.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its president,\u201d FIFA said.\u201cThose who do not have the support of FIFA\u2019s member associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through FIFA\u2019s established democratic processes.\u201cRecent reporting has included unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims concerning FIFA and its president. Speculation and insinuation should not be presented as fact, and repetition does not make an allegation true.\u201dThe statement comes at a particularly tense time for Infantino, who has faced growing criticism following his failed plan to commercialise World Cup profits through a proposed subsidiary, the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).Three continents rejected the proposal, while UEFA has emerged as the most vocal critic. Earlier this week, UEFA said its 55 member associations could still boycott FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, despite Infantino apologising over the failed plan.Following a meeting of FIFA\u2019s senior leadership in Morocco on Wednesday, the governing body acknowledged that \u201cmistakes were made\u201d over the proposal but \u201creaffirmed their full support\u201d for Infantino.<\/p>\n Despite UEFA\u2019s opposition, Infantino has retained significant backing elsewhere.South American governing body CONMEBOL said it would not support any attempt to remove Infantino on an accelerated timetable. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee also expressed its \u201cunanimous support\u201d for the FIFA president.Concacaf, meanwhile, criticised Infantino over the private investor proposal, calling it a \u201cunilateral and egregious act of poor governance\u201d and demanding a full review of his leadership. Mexico, however, backed Infantino and his call to \u201ccollectively continue developing football for the benefit of all 211 member associations.\u201dFIFA said it would continue to defend its president and challenge reporting it considers inaccurate.\u201cFIFA welcomes legitimate scrutiny. But scrutiny is not a licence to distort facts, amplify unsubstantiated allegations or manufacture distractions designed to undermine progress,\u201d it said.\u201cWhere reporting is inaccurate or misleading, FIFA will challenge it directly and vigorously.\u201dThe governing body added that its focus remained on its 211 member associations and \u201cmaking football truly global\u201d, insisting it would not be distracted from that mission.<\/div>\nFIFA: \u2018Repetition does not make an allegation true\u2019<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Infantino retains support outside Europe<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n