The Controversy Surrounding FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s Salary Raise

Recently, FIFA announced that president Gianni Infantino’s base salary was raised by 33% last year, bringing his total pay package to over $4.67 million. This raise was attributed to his re-election in March 2023, extending his presidency to 11 years. Infantino’s pre-tax base salary saw a significant increase, surpassing $2.78 million, while his annual bonus remained steady at $1.87 million. The justification for this salary raise was based on FIFA’s upcoming events, with the 2034 World Cup slated to be held in Saudi Arabia and the successful staging of the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

In comparison to his predecessor Sepp Blatter, who had a contracted bonus of $12 million for the 2014 World Cup, Infantino’s salary seems modest. Blatter received a $3 million basic salary in addition to his bonuses. It is evident that the compensation structure for FIFA’s top executives has changed over time, with reform panels recommending a more figurehead role for the president. Despite being a member of the reform panel in response to the 2015 corruption scandals, Infantino has continued to operate as an executive leader, overseeing preparations for major tournaments and making strategic decisions.

FIFA has projected total revenue of $11 billion from 2023 to 2026, with key sponsors like Coca-Cola, Adidas, Visa, and Saudi state oil firm Aramco contributing to this figure. The introduction of the 32-team men’s Club World Cup in the U.S. next year is not factored into this projection. The 2026 World Cup, with 48 teams and 104 games, is expected to be a major revenue driver for FIFA. The organization’s financial report indicated that most of its commercial income is tied to the men’s World Cup, and revenue from the 2023 Women’s World Cup was reported at $1.17 billion, with significant contributions from marketing deals and broadcasting rights.

Aside from president Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s CEO-like secretary general Fatma Samoura received a $2.15 million package in her final year in 2022, which included a salary of $1.47 million and a bonus of $670,000. The compensation panel chaired by retired judge Mukul Mudgal from India determines the salaries of top FIFA officials. The FIFA Council members, including six vice presidents from continental football bodies, receive varying compensation amounts plus expenses. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin was reported to have a gross salary close to $3.26 million, based on their financial disclosures. Comparatively, the chief executive of the English Premier League had a salary of $2.3 million in 2022, highlighting the disparity in executive compensation among football governing bodies.

FIFA disclosed that it spent nearly $1.75 billion in 2023, with a significant portion allocated to the Women’s World Cup. The organization also invested in football development programs, allocating up to $8 million to each of its 211 member federations every four years. Despite these expenditures, FIFA’s financial reserves remained at a solid level of almost $3.6 billion. However, the organization anticipates a decrease in reserves over the next two years before a projected rise in 2026, coinciding with the 2026 World Cup.

The controversy surrounding FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s salary raise has shed light on the compensation practices within the organization. As FIFA prepares for upcoming events and seeks to maintain its financial stability, the scrutiny over executive pay and transparency in financial operations will continue to be a topic of interest for stakeholders and the broader football community.