Gianni Infantino’s period at UEFA has come under fresh scrutiny following new allegations that the organisation paid a six-figure settlement to a former employee who was involved in a relationship with the man who is now FIFA president.

According to an investigation by The Telegraph, the woman was allegedly promoted while the relationship was ongoing before later leaving UEFA with a substantial payout.

UEFA also paid for a course for the former employee at a business school, at a cost of around £45,000 per year.

The governing body has confirmed that the payments were made, although it maintains that both were allowed under the regulations covering staff departures at that time.

The organisation said those rules have since been made stricter, with its current regulations intended to reflect the standards expected of a modern, high-profile organisation.

Infantino, who joined UEFA in 2000 before rising to become its general secretary and eventually taking over as FIFA president in 2016, strongly denies the allegations.

A FIFA spokesperson said there had never been a complaint from any employee regarding Infantino’s behaviour.

They said any suggestion of inappropriate conduct or breaches of regulations was completely untrue.

Then UEFA president Michel Platini was aware of the relationship and confronted Infantino, demanding that either he or the woman should leave.

The woman later left UEFA with a pay-off and subsequently obtained another role in the football industry.

The allegations have emerged at a particularly difficult time for Infantino, whose leadership of FIFA has come under criticism after the collapse of a controversial financing proposal involving outside investors.

UEFA recently voted unanimously against the plan, while concerns over FIFA’s commercial direction have continued to increase.

Infantino is determined to remain in his position and has reportedly told people close to him that he has no intention of stepping down.

These latest allegations will add further pressure on a FIFA president who is already facing a strong backlash from across the football industry.