Governing Bodies
FIFA PRESIDENT INFANTINO’S GROSS SALARY CLIMBS TO $3.2 MILLION
BY DAVID OWEN
The gross salary awarded by FIFA to its President Gianni Infantino rose to more than $3.2 million (£2.4 million/€2.66 million) in 2019.
The world football body’s 2019 annual report details amounts earmarked for both Infantino and Fatma Samoura, secretary general, in salary and allowances last year.
In Infantino’s case, the sums involved were as follows: gross salary (base) CHF1.95 million (£1.6 million/$2.1 million/€1.8 million); gross salary (variable) CHF1.03 million (£844,600/$1.1 million/€947,600); flat-rate allowance CHF24,000 (£19,680/$25,920/€22,080).
For some reason, FIFA has decided to change the reporting currency since 2018, when Infantino’s pay was denominated in US dollars and amounted to $1.98 million (£1.5 million/€1.64 million) in base salary, $555,000 (£416,250/€460,650) in variable salary and $24,319 (£18,239/€20,185) in flat-rate allowances.
This made for a grand total of $2.56 million (£1.92 million/€2.12 million).
At the current exchange rate of CHF1 = US$1.08, Infantino’s 2019 payments add up to $3.24 million (£2.43 million/€2.66 million).
By our calculations, this makes for a year-on-year advance of 26.6 per cent – distinctly enviable in light of the current state of the world economy, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, with the sports sector among the main casualties.
Secretary general Fatma Samoura has not done quite as well as her boss.
Her 2019 payments of CHF1.57 million (£1.29 million/$1.7 million/€1.4 million), compare with a 2018 figure of $1.56 million (£1.17 million/€1.3 million), equivalent to a raise of just under 9 per cent.
The report includes various small print regarding Infantino – who is the subject of a criminal investigation in Switzerland – and Samoura’s pay.
For example, the gross salary (variable) for 2019 will be paid in 2020.
In addition, a “second part”, totalling CHF277,500 (£227,550/$299,700/€255,300), of Infantino’s gross salary (variable) for 2018 was paid in 2019.
It is also noted that “as with all of its employees”, FIFA contributes to the social charges, pension fund and accident insurance for both the President and the secretary general.
The specific amount of these contributions for 2019 is not spelt out.
In 2018, FIFA made contributions totalling $372,086 (£279,065/€308,831) relating to the two officials.
The 2019 report shows that payments made to both FIFA Council members and top management have also climbed appreciably year-on-year.
Including pension contributions, FIFA Council members received a total of $14.5 million (£10.9 million/€12 million) in 2019 – up from $11.4 million (£8.55 million/€9.5 million) a year earlier.
That amounts to a 27 per cent hike.
Compensation for FIFA management rose to $20.9 million (£15.7 million/€17.3 million), compared with $17.9 million (£13.4 million/€14.9 million) in 2018.
That represents an increase of just over 16 per cent.
It appears, however, that the 2019 figure incorporates one fewer division chief officer.
Both amounts also include unspecified separation costs.
The 2019 accounts show that FIFA made a net loss of just over $185 million (£139 million/€153.5 million) for the first year of the new cycle, with revenues totalling $765.7 million (£574.3 million/€635.5 million)
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The president of the Confédération of African Football, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, has announced five new CAF Vice Presidents. They are:
- CAF First Vice President: Mr Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco)
- CAF Second Vice President: Mr Kurt Okraku (Ghana)
- CAF Third Vice President: Mr Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
- CAF Fourth Vice President: Ms Bestine Kazadi Ditabala (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- CAF Fifth Vice President: Mr Feizal Sidat (Mozambique)
In addition, the CAF President has co-opted Yacine Idriss Diallo, President of Fédération Ivoirienne de football, into the CAF Executive Committee.
The CAF Executive Committee also approved the names to fill vacant positions on several CAF Committees.
Organising Committee for the African Nations Championship (CHAN)
- President: Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
CAF Technical and Development Committee
- President: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
- Vice President: Malouche Belhassen (Tunisia)
CAF Medical Committee:
- President: Dr. Mohammed Bouya (Mauritania)
- Vice President: Dr. Thulani Ngwenya (South Africa)
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Governing Bodies
Nigeria becoming an epicentre of global badminton as Francis Orbih enters the Badminton World Federation Council
Laurels on the courts and now glory in the boardroom sums up the mark that badminton is making in Nigeria.
The President, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, has been elected as a council member of the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
The election took place during the BWF Annual General Meeting on Saturday in Xiamen, China.
Orbih emerged victorious over top contenders from other African countries.
He will join Cameroon’s Odette Assembe Engoulou on the council, while Chipo Zumburani (Zimbabwe) and Hadia ElSaid (Egypt) missed out.
An elated Orbih expressed his gratitude to fellow badminton presidents across the globe for their trust and support.
He said, “I am deeply honoured by the trust placed in me by my peers across the badminton world.
“I look forward to quality representation, driving development initiatives, and strengthening badminton’s global reach over the next four years.”
Orbih also acknowledged the support of the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly the National Sports Commission (NSC), which he said played a significant role in his successful bid.
“The Chairman and the Director General of the NSC monitored the entire process. I’m grateful for their involvement and confident Nigeria will benefit from this,” he stated.
He further appreciated the BFN board members and the Nigerian badminton community for their prayers and continued belief in his leadership.
“From the day I declared my intentions, the board members of BFN have been supportive, and I promise not to disappoint them,” Orbih concluded.
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A former member of the FIFA Council, Mamoutou Toure, has been released from jail in Mali after almost two years in detention for alleged corruption, Malian media reports said on Wednesday.
Toure, president of the Malian Football Federation since 2019, was released after 622 days in prison on Tuesday.
He served on the FIFA Council, world football’s all-powerful decision-making body, for four years until last month when he lost his seat after failing to contest new elections.
The 67-year-old was arrested in August 2023 on allegations of embezzling $28 million of public funds but was granted a provisional release order by the Malian courts, reports said.
He was accused of misconduct during his time as the National Assembly’s financial and administrative director from 2013-2019.
Toure denied all charges and, during his time in jail, was last August re-elected as Malian Football Federation president for a second consecutive term, with his supporters claiming he was a victim of a conspiracy fuelled by detractors.
While in jail, he received a letter of support from FIFA president Gianni Infantino. However, as of last month, Toure is no longer a member of the FIFA Council or the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee.
-Reuters
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