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FIFA has criticised what it called attempts to “undermine” its embattled president, Gianni Infantino.

Infantino has been facing calls to step down from his position in the wake of a controversy that saw him drop a proposed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions.

That proposal prompted the threat of a boycott from UEFA, European football’s governing body, with England’s Football Association (FA) among those to formally withdraw support for the FIFA president.

Infantino is set to seek re-election in March next year. He has received support from South American body CONMEBOL and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is under pressure.

Infantino succeeded Sepp Blatter as FIFA president in February 2016 after previously serving as UEFA’s general secretary for seven years.

Infantino has firmly denied a claim made by The Telegraph that UEFA paid off his alleged lover with a six-figure sum during his time working at European football’s governing body, and he has now received fresh backing from FIFA.

“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,” a FIFA spokesperson said. “The FIFA President was democratically elected by FIFA’s Member Associations and continues to serve with their mandate.

FIFA’s management board backed Infantino at a meeting in Morocco on Wednesday.

“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.

“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 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.”

UEFA has said its threat to boycott still stands despite the decision to abandon the sell-off plans.

FIFA’s management board backed Infantino at a meeting in Morocco on Wednesday.