The governance of new FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his lifestyle have drawn criticism in an internal memo of world football’s governing body, published online by the Swiss weekly SonntagsZeitung.
The 11-page memo, dated May 23 last, concerns the first two months of Infantino’s presidency and its unnamed author sent the document to Sindisiwe Mabaso-Koyana, acting chairperson of FIFA’s audit and compliance committee.
“It is my duty to report potential cases of breaches of regulations,” the author wrote, claiming Infantino had not respected the four-month delay before the Mexico Congress in May to appoint people close to him to the various FIFA committees.
“This undermines all efforts taken up to date, to strengthen FIFA’s governance,” the memo stated. It also questioned Infantino’s lifestyle, as well as possible conflicts of interest, such as the use of private jets.
The memo further notes that FIFA has made two company cars and a driver available to Infantino. The second car which is used primarily by Infantino’s family cost $20,140 in March and $13,800 in April.
Infantino took the helm of the scandal-plagued body in February vowing to lead world football into a new era of “transparency” and “honesty”. His predecessor Sepp Blatter is already serving a six-year suspension from football over a 2mn Swiss franc ($2mn, 1.8mn euros) payment to former FIFA vice president Michel Platini.
A FIFA spokesman told AFP that there was “nothing new” in the memo. “A restructuring process is ongoing,” she said, adding it is “normal that some people are not happy”.
Regarding costs, the spokesman said the expenses “comply with FIFA rules.”
Meanwhile Infantino has again underlined his support for an expanded 40-team World Cup despite criticism of the extended 24-team Euro 2016 format.
Infantino told Germany’s Bild newspaper in an interview published he believed that having more teams would increase the number of football fans worldwide.
The World Cup “is more than a competition; it is a social event which every one supports in a country,” he said.
The FIFA Council will decide in October whether to increase the number of finalists from 32 to 40 for the 2026 World Cup. Opposition to the idea has come especially from the main European leagues.
Infantino said when a country competes at a World Cup for the first time it generates enthusiasm across generations.
“For the development of football it is therefore very important that we can bring in more countries and regions,” he said.