FIFA has defended its president, Gianni Infantino, amid growing criticism of his leadership and what the governing body described as a concerted and ongoing effort to undermine his position.

The latest defence came after UEFA confirmed on Saturday that a departure payment had been made to a woman during Infantino's 16-year tenure as the organisation's secretary general. UEFA said the payment was made in accordance with the regulations governing departing staff at the time. It added that the rules were revised in 2016 to reflect the standards of a modern, high-profile organisation.

FIFA has rejected allegations surrounding the payment and accused Infantino's critics of using allegations, insinuations and misinformation to challenge his leadership outside the organisation's established democratic processes.

The controversy comes as Infantino faces broader criticism over his now-abandoned proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation all opposed the plan. Following a meeting in Morocco on Wednesday, FIFA's management board expressed its support for Infantino, who also apologised for the way the proposal had been handled.

However, the backing has failed to end the pressure on the FIFA president, with calls for his resignation continuing to grow. UEFA has also maintained its threat to boycott FIFA competitions, saying that key conditions for ending the standoff have yet to be met.

— CHANNELS