FIFA has released a statement in support of its president, Gianni Infantino, denouncing what it describes as a deliberate and ongoing campaign to challenge his leadership within the organization. The statement was issued on Saturday, following a report by The Daily Telegraph questioning a financial package provided by UEFA to a female employee who previously worked with Infantino during his tenure as general secretary of European soccer’s governing body.

UEFA acknowledged making a “departure payment” to the employee, noting that it complied with regulations in place at the time. Infantino’s tenure at UEFA spanned 16 years before his election as FIFA president.

In its Saturday statement, FIFA criticized those opposing Infantino for attempting to weaken his authority and push for his removal without following proper procedures. The statement emphasized that certain allegations and misinformation being circulated lack substantiation and should not be presented as factual.

FIFA highlighted that change can provoke resistance from established interests, but disagreements with change do not justify undermining the democratic mandate of the FIFA president or the institution he leads.

Infantino faced criticism over his proposal to involve private equity in World Cup profits, which was met with rejection by UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC. Despite backlash, he received support from FIFA’s management board after a meeting in Morocco and apologized for the handling of the process. UEFA’s threat of a boycott of FIFA competitions by its 55 member countries until the plan was withdrawn remains unchanged, with UEFA emphasizing that the situation persists.

While confirming that the exit payment adhered to regulations applicable at the time, UEFA noted that its rules have been revised since 2016 to align with contemporary standards expected of a prominent organization.