- US tax filings revealed that Infantino received an undeclared £1.76m payment through a World Cup subsidiary entity in 2024
- The payment was absent from Fifa's official financial statements, which listed Infantino's earnings at approximately 4.27 million Swiss francs
- Fifa council members backed by Uefa figures are preparing to confront Infantino, with Arsène Wenger emerging as a potential rival for the presidency
Fifa president Gianni Infantino is facing mounting pressure over an undisclosed £1.76 million (approximately R29 million) payment linked to the organisation of the 2026 World Cup in North America, with critics warning the arrangement violates the organisation's own governance rules.
Public filings submitted to the United States Internal Revenue Service show that FWC2026 US Inc, a non-profit subsidiary established to oversee operations for the 48-team tournament, disbursed the seven-figure sum to Infantino during 2024. The findings were first reported by The Times.
The payment did not appear in Fifa's main annual financial statements, which recorded Infantino's official 2024 compensation at around 4.27 million Swiss francs (approximately R85.1 million). Its omission has drawn accusations of a direct violation of Article 43 of Fifa's statutes, which requires the individual remuneration of the president, secretary-general, and council members to be disclosed publicly.
Governance Experts and Former Officials Raise Alarm
Miguel Maduro, former chairman of Fifa's governance committee, offered a pointed assessment of the situation. "It is a clear contravention of the rules if he is paid other amounts by companies related to Fifa and it is not made public," he said.
Independent watchdogs have added their voices to the criticism, cautioning that undisclosed payments routed through subsidiary entities risk dismantling the governance reforms introduced following the removal of former Fifa president Sepp Blatter in 2015.
Fifa moved swiftly to counter the allegations, issuing a statement that read: "Fifa does not pay a second salary to the Fifa president and complies with all reporting requirements in relation to compensation. The Fifa president's annual compensation, as well as other contractual benefits, are decided by the independent compensation subcommittee."
Notably, the statement did not deny that the payment was made. Spokespeople for the governing body insisted that all financial statements are subjected to independent audits and fully comply with tax law in Switzerland, the United States, and internationally.
Wenger Emerges as Potential Presidential Rival
The controversy has accelerated political manoeuvring within Fifa's leadership structures. Council members, supported by senior figures at Uefa, are preparing to raise the matter directly with Infantino at an upcoming executive meeting in Zurich.
As dissatisfaction spreads among European football associations, Uefa-linked figures have begun approaching former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger about a potential challenge for the Fifa presidency. Wenger currently serves as Fifa's chief of global football development. Former Uefa executive Alex Phillips told BBC Sport that Wenger "would bring football and integrity to the leadership of Fifa."
Wenger has not yet confirmed whether he intends to stand. Candidate nominations close on 18 November, ahead of the election at the Fifa Congress in Rabat on 18 March 2027.
Earlier this year, Infantino also faced internal opposition over a since-abandoned proposal to sell a 20% stake in World Cup commercial rights to private equity investors.
Source: Briefly News