Infantino Faces Resignation Pressure Over Unreported £1.3m FIFA Payment
Gianni Infantino is facing fresh pressure to resign as FIFA president after US filings revealed a further £1.3 million payment in 2024 that was not listed in FIFA’s public annual report.
Undeclared payment raises transparency questions
FIFA’s annual report recorded Infantino’s compensation at £3.88m, but did not itemise the additional £1.3m paid through FWC2026, the subsidiary set up for the next World Cup.
The disclosure has prompted criticism that FIFA has not met the transparency standard set out in its own rules. FIFA statutes require the individual pay of the president, council members and secretary general to be made public.
| Item | Amount / detail |
|---|---|
| Infantino compensation listed in FIFA annual report | £3.88m |
| Additional 2024 payment through FWC2026 | £1.3m |
| Deadline for presidential candidates | November 18 |
FIFA points to benefits process
FIFA said the president’s yearly compensation and contractual benefits are determined by its compensation sub-committee. It added that social contributions, pension payments and other employee benefits are reported to US authorities under the relevant filing requirements.
The governing body’s position is that the payment was declared through the required US channels, even though it was not separately presented as salary in the annual report.
- FIFA’s 2024 report listed Infantino’s pay at £3.88m.
- US tax records later showed a further £1.3m from FWC2026.
- Critics questioned why the payment was absent from FIFA’s public disclosure.
- FIFA responded by citing its compensation and employee-benefit reporting procedures.
Why the FWC2026 payment stands out
The extra payment was made only to Infantino among the senior figures linked to the World Cup entity. FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom received no additional sum from FWC2026.
Victor Montagliani, the CONCACAF president and chairman of the FWC2026 board, was also not paid extra by the company despite his role in overseeing the tournament operation.
Election backing under scrutiny
The row has added to Infantino’s strained relations with influential parts of the game. He has reportedly lost support from UEFA as well as federations in North America and Asia, but is not planning to step down.
Infantino believes backing from Africa and South America will be sufficient to win another term when FIFA holds its presidential election in March 2027. No major rival has yet emerged.
Former Tottenham Hotspur and Switzerland defender Ramon Vega has indicated he wants to stand, but he is not expected to obtain nominations from the five member associations needed to enter the race before the November 18 deadline.
Key takeaways
- The central issue is not whether the £1.3m was reported to US authorities, but why it was not clearly included in FIFA’s public pay disclosure.
- FWC2026 paid Infantino, while Grafstrom and Montagliani received no comparable additional compensation.
- Infantino remains focused on re-election despite renewed resignation calls and weakened support in some confederations.
- The November 18 nomination deadline will determine whether any opponent can formally challenge him.
