FIFA has strongly criticised the “concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine” Gianni Infantino.
The damning statement came in response to a report by the Telegraph, which said an alleged lover of the FIFA President was paid off by UEFA.
A spokesman for the governing body told the publication Infantino “strongly denies” the allegations, labelling them as “categorically untrue”.
FIFA has now issued a lengthy message, taking aim at “demonstrably false claims concerning FIFA and its President”.
A FIFA spokesman said: “Echoing the recent statements of CONMEBOL and CAF, as well as discussions with FIFA Member Associations and Confederations from around the world, FIFA will not support, facilitate or tolerate any process concerning the election of the FIFA President that is inconsistent with FIFA’s Statutes, democratic procedures and established governance framework.
“The FIFA President was democratically elected by FIFA’s Member Associations and continues to serve with their mandate.
“It is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its President.
“Those who do not have the support of FIFA’s Member Associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through FIFA’s established democratic processes.”
FIFA has strongly criticised the ‘concerted and ongoing effort to undermine’ Gianni Infantino
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Taking aim at The Telegraph’s report, the spokesman continued: “Recent 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.
“The FIFA President has dedicated more than 30 years of his professional life to European and world football, contributing to significant change in the game and, in particular, to broadening access, resources and opportunity across world football.
“Change inevitably challenges established interests, but disagreement with that change cannot justify efforts to undermine the democratic mandate of FIFA’s President or the institution he was elected to lead.”
FIFA said: ‘Where reporting is inaccurate or misleading, FIFA will challenge it directly and vigorously’
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The spokesman added: “FIFA welcomes legitimate scrutiny. But scrutiny is not a licence to distort facts, amplify unsubstantiated allegations or manufacture distractions designed to undermine progress.
“Where reporting is inaccurate or misleading, FIFA will challenge it directly and vigorously. FIFA’s responsibility is to its 211 Member Associations and to football around the world.
“We will not be distracted or diverted from strengthening the organisation, delivering for our Member Associations and continuing the work of making football truly global.
“Through the FIFA President and the FIFA administration, our focus remains firmly on that mission, and we are more determined than ever to fulfil it.”
Infantino has come under heavy fire after his failed FIFA Forward Enterprise plan
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Infantino won the FIFA presidency back in 2016, being re-elected in both 2019 and 2023.
The FIFA President has come under fire following his failed sell-off plan after having to scrap a £3.1billion stake in the World Cup to private investors after it drew widespread criticism across the football world and beyond.
UEFA has threatened to boycott all FIFA competitions, while the FA has voiced its concerns surrounding Infantino and withdrawn its letter of support for his re-election.
The FIFA President is still finding allies from football federations across Africa, South America and Asia – a coalition that could prove sufficient to repel any formal leadership challenge at the March election.
