Gianni Infantino, the President of FIFA, is at the center of a new controversy. According to reports from The Times, Infantino received an additional $1.76 million in 2024 through a company linked to the organization of the 2026 World Cup. This payment was not publicly declared, raising questions about the financial transparency of FIFA and further complicating Infantino's already tumultuous tenure.
The allegations suggest that Infantino received the payment through FWC2026 US Inc, an entity created for the 2026 World Cup preparations. This sum is in addition to the $3.88 million Infantino officially declared as part of his annual remuneration. The lack of transparency regarding these payments has sparked concerns about Infantino's compliance with FIFA's governance rules, specifically the requirement for individual disclosure of remuneration for top executives.
FIFA's statutes, specifically Article 43, paragraph 13, mandate the publication of individual remunerations for its principal officials. Miguel Maduro, former head of FIFA's governance committee, has stated that the failure to disclose these payments could constitute a clear violation of the organization's rules. Maduro is calling for explanations regarding the nature of these payments and why they were not transparently presented.
The investigation also looked into Infantino's lifestyle in the United States, where he spent considerable time preparing for the 2026 World Cup. The additional remuneration allegedly helped finance some of his expenses, including the rental of a luxurious seaside residence in Miami for tens of thousands of dollars per month. This property was previously owned by Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google.
Further scrutiny has been applied to Infantino's acquisition of an apartment valued at $8.6 million through a company. While these elements do not in themselves demonstrate irregular use of funds, they contribute to questions about the separation between professional expenses, benefits related to presidential functions, and personal income.
The timing of these revelations is particularly challenging for Infantino, who is already facing significant opposition to his governance. Following tensions over his project to commercialize part of the World Cup assets with private investors, Infantino must now address questions about his remuneration. The UEFA and Concacaf have demanded greater transparency in FIFA's financial management and proposed redistributing some of its significant reserves to its 211 member federations.
Despite these challenges, Infantino retains significant support and is determined to seek a new term during the presidential election scheduled for March 2027. The revelations from The Times could strengthen demands for explanations and independent oversight, as opponents seek to challenge him with an alternative candidate. This new controversy may lead to a formal investigation, depending on the responses provided by FIFA regarding the payments made by its US structure.
Key points
- Gianni Infantino received an additional $1.76 million in 2024 through a company linked to the 2026 World Cup organization, which was not publicly declared.
- The payments have raised questions about FIFA's financial transparency and Infantino's compliance with the organization's governance rules.
- The controversy comes at a difficult time for Infantino, who faces growing opposition to his leadership and calls for greater transparency in FIFA's financial management.
