The president of FIFA (International Football Federation), Gianni Infantino, received US$6.1 million (R$32.3 million) from the entity that governs world football throughout 2024, according to the French newspaper Le Monde, which claimed to have had access to American tax documents.
According to the publication, the amounts include US$2.9 million (R$15.6 million) in salaries, US$1.8 million (R$9.7 million) in bonuses, in addition to US$1.15 million (R$6.2 million) in “other reportable remuneration” and US$155 thousand (R$834.5 thousand) in “pension and other deferred remuneration”.
Analysis carried out by the French newspaper based on income tax declarations to the American tax authorities (Form 990) indicate that the Italian-Swiss leader’s income has skyrocketed over the last few years.
The annual salary, as well as other contractual benefits, is determined by the FIFA Remuneration Subcommittee.
In 2015, FIFA had declared to the IRS (US Internal Revenue Service) a payment of US$3.6 million in income and “other remuneration” to Gianni Infantino’s predecessor, the Swiss Sepp Blatter, with US$2.9 million as a base salary and US$435 thousand (R$2.3 million) as a bonus.
When Blatter was removed in the wake of a corruption scandal and Infantino took over, in mid-2016, the Subcommittee set the value of the new executive’s remuneration at US$1.8 million (R$9.7 million) annually.
Still according to IR’s statements, according to the French newspaper, in the wake of the successful World Cups in 2018, in Russia, and 2022, in Qatar, and the re-election of the director, in 2023, Infantino started to cost FIFA US$3.6 million (R$19.4 million) in 2022 and US$4.1 million (R$22 million) in 2023.
“As part of its legal commitment to transparency, FIFA annually publishes the remuneration paid to key members of its management team,” the organization told Le Monde.
However, the value of contributions to “social security, retirement contributions, accident insurance in Switzerland and other contractual benefits”, mentioned in the entity’s annual report, is not disclosed.
Close to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, who he has become closer to in recent months due to the hosting of the World Cup in the country, Infantino, 55, could still seek a third term next year, which could extend his stay at the head of football’s highest governing body until 2031.
