Gianni Infantino in fresh Fifa controversy over 'secret World Cup payment'

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Fifa president Gianni Infantino was paid a previously undisclosed $1.72 million World Cup sum, according to Fifa and IRS documents obtained by ESPN.

The report, published on Tuesday, said the absence of transparency surrounding the remuneration is a potential breach of Fifa statutes.

Records from the IRS show Infantino was given the money in 2024 by FWC2026, the US-based organisation established by Fifa to operate the 2026 World Cup held in North America this summer.

This $1.72 million came on top of Infantino's salary and benefits from Fifa for 2024, which totaled around $4.9 million. Per the report, the supplementary payout was omitted from Fifa's 2024 annual report.

A Fifa spokesperson reacted to the fresh controversy surrounding Infantino(Reuters)

According to Fifa's rules, "The individual compensation of the Fifa President, the members of the Council and the Fifa Secretary General shall be made public."

A spokesperson for Fifa told ESPN that the governing body "strongly rejects any suggestion there has been a violation" of the statutes.

A Fifa statement read: "Fifa does not pay a second salary to the Fifa President and complies with all reporting requirements in relation to compensation. The Fifa President's annual compensation, as well as other contractual benefits, are decided by the independent Compensation Sub-Committee.

"Fifa strongly rejects any claims that it has failed to disclose any financial information and has violated Fifa's Statutes. Fifa accounts are independently audited, and all declarations are in line with tax regulations in Switzerland, the United States and elsewhere.

"Fifa is fully focused on the Fifa Council meeting on Thursday and looks forward to discussions with its members to further grow the game following the most successful Fifa World Cup in history."

It is the newest controversy to hit Infantino, 56, who has been in post since 2016. Earlier this year, he faced criticism over a since-abandoned plan to sell a 20 per cent stake in the World Cup to private investors.

Despite the controversy surrounding Infantino, he still intends to stand for re-election as president next March. It was also announced last week that Aleksander Ceferin, who has been a fierce critic of Infantino, is planning to seek a fourth term as Uefa president.