FIFA agreed to pay the US income taxes of its president, Gianni Infantino, after he moved from Switzerland to Miami, according to documents reviewed by The New York Times. The cost is expected to reach about $4 million by 2026, equivalent to roughly 21.8 million Brazilian reais, the report said.
The decision was made in May 2024 at a meeting in Bangkok of the three-member committee responsible for determining the remuneration of FIFA’s most senior officials. Bruno Chiomento, a Swiss accountant who chairs the committee, argued that FIFA should compensate Infantino for the higher tax burden associated with his move to the United States. The other members agreed, the documents showed.
The arrangement was not disclosed in FIFA’s official documents, despite rules introduced after a corruption scandal a decade ago that require the organization to publish compensation information for its top officials, according to the report. Infantino earns about $6 million a year, based on FIFA’s annual report.
In a statement, FIFA said that its internal regulations and processes, as well as applicable laws, had been followed. It added that the organization ensures compliance with tax and reporting requirements and that payments to senior management are independently audited. FIFA declined to provide further details about the tax agreement.
The report also described concerns among some FIFA officials about the advice given on Infantino’s tax arrangements. Chiomento consulted external specialists, including Infantino’s personal lawyer, David Zollinger. FIFA’s administrative team had raised concerns about a possible conflict of interest in hiring Zollinger, the documents said. FIFA declined to explain why people connected to Infantino advised on his personal tax matters; Chiomento and Zollinger did not comment.
The tax arrangement is part of a broader set of benefits for Infantino described in the documents, including housing and travel provisions. FIFA also approved a revised policy on executive compensation and benefits that, according to the report, loosened restrictions on gifts, VIP invitations and private-jet use, and expanded the president’s housing options.
FIFA did not respond in detail to the broader issues raised in the report. It said its governance and internal processes are strictly applied to external service providers, compensation and guest management.
Sources: Folha Esporte.