The international football governing body is facing renewed scrutiny after investigations by The New York Times and Le Monde revealed that FIFA agreed to cover four million dollars in U.S. taxes for President Gianni Infantino covering the years 2024 through 2026. While the organization denies any misconduct regarding these payments, the decision has placed the federation in a difficult position requiring explanation.
The tax obligation arose because Infantino, who is based in Switzerland, was temporarily stationed in the United States to oversee the 2025 Club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup. Under FIFA's standard "tax equalization" policy, full-time employees are protected from additional tax burdens incurred while working abroad compared to their home base. In spring 2024, Bruno Chiomento, head of the Compliance and Remuneration Committees, reportedly approved applying this principle to Infantino, despite his status as an elected official rather than a standard employee.
Internal reports suggest this decision faced resistance within the FIFA administration. However, the federation commissioned two experts in spring 2024 who argued in favor of the President's position. One of these experts was Swiss lawyer David Zollinger, who has represented Infantino in recent years. According to Le Monde, a letter from these experts concluded that the U.S. tax liability constituted an additional burden that should be covered, a conclusion Chiomento subsequently reaffirmed.
When approached by the SZ regarding these allegations, FIFA initially did not respond, nor did Chiomento. Zollinger declined to comment on potential mandates citing attorney-client privilege. In response to the initial reporting, FIFA stated that all compensation matters for its leadership are decided by an independent Remuneration Committee and that all internal procedures and laws were followed.
This controversy follows recent revelations regarding Infantino's total compensation. While the 2024 annual report listed his remuneration at 4.25 million Swiss francs, approximately 4.8 million dollars, U.S. tax filings submitted by the federation show he received a total of 6.1 million dollars from FIFA and its World Cup organizing subsidiary that year. Furthermore, total payments to the senior management team, which includes the President, General Secretary, and ten directors, rose sharply in 2025 from roughly 20.3 million dollars to nearly 24.9 million dollars. FIFA has not specified how this 4.5 million dollar increase was distributed among the executives.
Sources: Süddeutsche Zeitung.