A secret report has raised allegations that FIFA president Gianni Infantino ignored internal protocols early in his tenure, including travelling on private jets linked to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and visiting the Pope at FIFA’s expense, according to The Telegraph.
The claims were reported by the English newspaper on Monday afternoon and relate to the beginning of Infantino’s time as FIFA president. The Swiss official was elected to lead world football’s governing body in February 2016, but is said to have faced serious criticism and formal complaints within months of taking office.
The Telegraph reported that senior officials submitted allegations about Infantino’s conduct in June of his first year as president. The complaints reportedly concerned a range of issues and suggested that he had disregarded established procedures.
Among the claims is that Infantino travelled on private aircraft belonging to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. The report also alleges that he attended a meeting with the Pope at FIFA’s expense, accompanied by his mother.
Infantino is further accused of rejecting a salary of more than two million euros because he considered the figure insufficient. According to the report, he then appointed members of his own staff on what were described as excessively high salaries.
The allegations, as reported by The Telegraph, suggest FIFA could have imposed sanctions over the conduct. However, no such action was taken, and Infantino was cleared of all charges.
Infantino has now been FIFA president for about a decade, but the allegations have added to continuing scrutiny of his leadership. The report presents the complaints as part of a series of criticisms directed at the Swiss official since he took charge of the organisation.
The claims concern the early period of Infantino’s presidency and are based on material described by The Telegraph as a secret FIFA report. They do not alter the fact that he was acquitted of every charge referred to in the report.
Despite that outcome, the FIFA president continues to face numerous criticisms. The latest allegations focus on his travel arrangements, a visit involving the Pope, his approach to remuneration and the appointment of staff, all of which were reportedly examined after complaints were made by senior officials in 2016.
