The Telegraph: The woman suspected of being Infantino's mistress received severance pay far exceeding the norm.

According to The Telegraph, FIFA President Gianni Infantino is embroiled in controversy again. A new investigation alleges that he had a romantic relationship with a female UEFA administrator during his tenure as UEFA General Secretary, and that the woman later received a severance package far exceeding standard. These allegations have brought renewed attention to Infantino's past at UEFA.

The report stated that The Telegraph did not disclose the woman's name, but related documents showed that she experienced rapid career advancement during her relationship with Infantino, rising from an executive position to management, with an annual salary increase of approximately £25,000 (about €30,000).

The controversy culminated in late 2011 when the woman abruptly left UEFA, receiving approximately €17.5 million in severance pay, far exceeding UEFA's usual standards. Furthermore, she secured full tuition funding for a prestigious MBA program and subsequently joined another major international sports organization.

According to reports, this situation later caught the attention of then-UEFA president Michel Platini. Upon learning of the situation, Platini demanded that UEFA take swift action to protect the organization's image and ultimately facilitated the woman's departure from UEFA.

The incident later brought to light the conflict between Infantino and Platini. It is widely believed that this event could be a significant turning point in the deterioration of their relationship, ultimately linking it to the investigation and subsequent punishment of Platini. Platini, who had long suspected he was being targeted, filed criminal charges against Infantino and five other Swiss officials in Paris last June, accusing them of conspiring against him.

However, Platini was later acquitted in Swiss legal proceedings, and the charges against him for allegedly receiving €2.5 million in illegal payments from FIFA were also dropped. Nevertheless, the scandal fundamentally altered Platini's career, ultimately leading to his withdrawal from the international football governance system.

Now, similar controversies have once again thrust Infantino into the spotlight. Reports indicate that FIFA's Ethics Committee has received multiple complaints against Infantino, and some of his recent decisions are under scrutiny.

These include FIFA establishing and awarding the "FIFA Peace Prize" to former US President Trump, and special handling of relevant disciplinary rules during the World Cup. Previously, US striker Balogun was suspended and unable to participate in the World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium, but the suspension was ultimately revoked.

Meanwhile, UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF recently issued a joint statement strongly questioning the current governance of international football.

The statement reiterated: "Football represents the world's greatest shared passion and does not belong to any one individual or organization. It belongs to the players, the fans, the clubs, the national football associations, and the organizations responsible for protecting it. That is why we are speaking out on behalf of these organizations."

The three continental football federations further emphasized that the development and success of football is built on teamwork, and clearly stated: "Football governance is not a property right, nor is it the arbitrary exercise of power. It is a service undertaken to a group that trusts the management. When that trust is betrayed by deception, when leaders place themselves above the institution, this mandate ceases to exist."

It is worth noting that this statement received the support of as many as 142 national and regional football associations. This number exceeds half of FIFA's 211 member associations and is widely seen as a major challenge to Infantino's leadership style.

As the controversy surrounding Gianni Infantino continues to escalate, his ability to maintain sufficient support to complete his term and seek re-election has become a focal point of international football attention. Some even suggest that if internal pressure intensifies further, Infantino may face early resignation before next year's election.