By Andrew Warshaw
June 6 – Gianni Infantino has marked his first 100 days in charge of FIFA with a savage, somewhat unstatesmanlike tirade against his critics as he hit back at those who have accused him of abusing his position with a series of questionable manoeuvres.
In a clear effort to regain the moral high ground in interviews with Swiss newspapers, Infantino said he was the victim of a witch-hunt based on “purely malicious conjecture and speculation”.
But as well as justifying his presidency, he launched a jaw-dropping attack on his former governance guru Domenico Scala, who resigned last month as FIFA’s head of the audit and compliance chief.
Infantino was allegedly responsible for plotting to oust Scala, the official who set his salary at $2 million, a figure Infantino reportedly told colleagues was an “insult”. When the plot failed, FIFA instead introduced a new regulation that allowed its ruling Council, effectively run by Infantino, to hire and fire independent officials such as Scala, who promptly resigned in protest.
In a personal and often sarcastic outburst, Infantino tuned the heat back on Scala by rebuking him for the way he had behaved.
“The chairman of the Audit and Compliance Committee thought he was all-powerful,” fumed Infantino. “The day after I was elected, on 27 February 2016, he summoned all the international media, first thing in the morning, for an off-the-record press conference in which he essentially explained that I wouldn’t be able to lift a finger without asking him his opinion. If he wanted to be the real head of FIFA, he should have had the courage to run in the elections.”
Infantino said he only learned of Scala’s resignation after both returned from the FIFA Congress in Mexico City where the fallout occurred. “I would have found it a bit more elegant if he had informed me beforehand. But he was clearly rather proud of his little dramatic stunt, as well as of the fact that he repeated to every journalist that he’d travelled in business class, while I was in first. This is childish stuff that belongs in the playground.”
In the interviews Infantino claimed he could make a criminal complaint over an unauthorised recording of the Council meeting where the plot to oust Scala allegedly took place.
Denouncing what he described as a “carefully orchestrated hysteria” in the media to undermine him, he said he had “a good idea” of how details were leaked. “I reserve the right to make a complaint about theft of sensitive data.”
And he denied he was holding out for more than the $2 million being offered. “My enemies want to make me look greedy, it’s stupid,” said Infantino, adding: “If there is a destruction operation, it is directed against me. My contract is currently under negotiation and I will not be revealing the outline of it here.”
“Once it has been signed, however, I will gladly reveal all the details of it to you, and you will see that it will be less than the two million Swiss francs the press has been talking about. Everything that I have earned in my life has been thanks to my work. I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth.”
Infantino denied that the controversial rule change which undermined the guaranteed independence of the judicial commissions had jeopardised the reform process. “The facts prove it and will do so in the future,” he said. “Domenico Scala is mistaken in his analysis. He thinks that football can be managed with the same principles as a pharmaceutical company or pesticides’ manufacturer. This is a major error of assessment, because it underestimates the passion of football as well as its geopolitical dimension.”
Scala, he added, had only recently entered football administration and didn’t have a full grasp on sports governance, “and so for this reason I forgive his gaps in knowledge and errors of judgement.”
Here is the full English translation of the interview Infantino gave to French and German speaking Swiss newspapers:
The public remember the image of you looking radiant after your election at the end of February. Does that still hold true?
Of course, more than ever! I make my living through football and when I get up every morning, I thank life for all the gifts it has given me. People have understood that this sport is my passion. And today, I’m at the head of world football, as the FIFA president. What more could I ask for? Obviously this brings with it some heavy responsibilities. It’s an arduous task. But it’s a pleasure to be in the position I’m in.
Today marks exactly 100 days since you became FIFA president. In politics, this is considered a honeymoon period in which new leaders can shape their tenure. Has the ‘Infantino style’ already taken hold?
It is not my place to answer that – that is the role of observers. I think that I’ve rebuilt the link between FIFA and football’s main stakeholders. One of my priorities was to get everyone in the football world moving in the same direction, to restore the unity that had been so sorely missing in the past. I really want to make FIFA an institution that is open to the world, rather than an ivory tower. I’d like everyone to feel at home here. I want to always have my ear to the ground. Last Saturday, I was in Milan for the Champions League final. I was able to talk to stakeholders right across the spectrum, from players to directors and politicians. And I really sensed a renewed sense of serenity, for which I am – and must be – the guarantor. That is the direction in which the beginning of my term of office has gone, and it’s one I want to keep pursuing.
It’s been a turbulent last few weeks. For example, Domenico Scala, the former chairman of the Audit & Compliance Committee, caused a big stir with his resignation in the aftermath of the Congress in Mexico. When and how did you hear the news?
I found out the same way everyone did, when I got off the plane on returning from Mexico. Incidentally, we were on the same flight. I think it would have been a bit classier if he had informed me beforehand. However, he was clearly rather proud of his little dramatic stunt, as well as of the fact that he repeated to every journalist that he’d travelled in business class, while I was in first. This is childish stuff that belongs in the playground. I don’t want to attach any more importance to it [than it really has].
Be that as it may, Domenico Scala’s statement on 14 May was alarming. In it, he asserts that the FIFA Council’s approval of a regulatory amendment giving the Council the power to appoint or dismiss members of independent committees jeopardises the entire reform process. What is your response to that?
Let me start by saying that, in terms of the way he has gone about things, I feel like the victim of a witch hunt. It is purely malicious conjecture and speculation. Neither the FIFA president nor the members of the Council have influenced or will influence the work of the independent committees. The facts prove as much and they will continue to do so in the future. As for the substance, Domenico Scala is also mistaken in his analysis. He thinks that football is run according to the same management principles as a pharmaceutical company or a pesticide manufacturer. This is a major misconception, as he underestimates the passion at play in football, and its geopolitical dimension. But it is also true that Mr Scala’s discovery of football was both sudden and recent, so for this reason I forgive his gaps in knowledge and errors of judgement.
Why did the Council want this rule change?
There was a pressing need to move forward, to not dither. We must be conscious that FIFA cannot change overnight. It is still in a situation in which internal and external investigations can be carried out by anyone, at any time. My management style is proactive, not passive. I don’t wait for events to unfold. Consequently, it was necessary to adopt adequate measures so that people under investigation can be swiftly replaced, without going through the Council, because otherwise we would have to wait a year. With this decision, which was made almost unanimously by the Council, we will benefit in terms of both time and money. I’d like to add that it is a temporary one-year measure.
Did the Council fear that Domenico Scala, who had the authority to supervise all its members’ activities, had too much power?
Quite the opposite! It was rather the chairman of the Audit and Compliance Committee who thought he was all-powerful. The day after I was elected, on 27 February 2016, he summoned all the international media, first thing in the morning, for an off-the-record press conference in which he essentially explained that I wouldn’t be able to lift a finger without asking him his opinion. If he wanted to be the real head of FIFA, he should have had the courage to run in the elections.
Last Saturday, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung began publishing written and audio documents from a number of meetings held in Mexico. The newspaper concluded from them that Domenico Scala’s departure was largely wished for and that you, the Council, had mapped out a number of scenarios to ensure that happened. Did you organise a plot?
First of all, I would like to know how minutes and audio recordings of the Council’s meetings can get into the newspapers. I have a pretty good idea how. By the way, I reserve the right to file a complaint for the theft of sensitive data. On top of that, and by way of causing me harm, there are things that are taken out of context. In any case, the facts have already shown – as they will show again in the future – that all these theories have not been proven. There may be some people who are trying to discourage me. They should know, however, that they are only strengthening my determination and my desire to fight for the good of football. That is the reason I was elected.
You’ve been the subject of a number of criticisms in the press. Did you ask for the audio recordings of the Council sessions in Mexico to be destroyed, as the internal email published in Der Tages-Anzeiger indicate?
Well, if there has been a plan to destroy things, then it’s been aimed at me first and foremost. On a serious note, please allow me to put things in perspective. It was a confidential strategic meeting that was meant to stay confidential. An illegal copy was unfortunately discovered in the administration. I can assure you that the original is in good hands and is at the disposal of any relevant authority who wishes to consult it. Do you think that the major multinationals would be happy to see the confidential content of their meetings stolen by someone and then be made public in the press?
Mark Pieth, the professor from Basel and one-time FIFA reformer, said that in terms of your thirst for power, you are “worse than Blatter”.
I held Mark Pieth in high regard. I don’t understand his media outbursts. Has he become a tool for some of my opponents, who are using him to do me down? Do not forget that it was Mr Pieth who proposed Mr Scala to FIFA, which is why he is so rightly disappointed.
You took up your post 100 days ago. Do you have a contract of employment?
There are so many more pressing matters to attend to than my contract. I have always said that I will lay my cards on the table and that there will be total transparency. I will make an announcement when it is finalised.
One of the things that has caused the biggest reaction was your annual salary of two million Swiss francs, set by the remunerations panel, which you are said to have refused. Is that correct?
My enemies take me for a fool. It’s ridiculous! I haven’t stolen anything. And everything I’ve earned in my life has been through my hard work. Everything! I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth, and I sense, reading between the lines, that that’s also being held against me. It’s often the case that people who come from a privileged background resent the rise of those they do not consider to be one of them.
What do you think is a reasonable salary for the president?
At the risk of repeating myself, the contract is currently under negotiation and I will not be revealing the outline of it here. Once it has been signed, however, I will gladly reveal all the details of it to you, and you will see that it will be less than the two million Swiss francs the press has been talking about.
According to the minutes revealed by the FAZ, you spoke about the purchase of an expensive house – costing 25 million Swiss francs – in Zurich. What about the other criticisms (a private jet between Moscow and Qatar, then from Qatar to Zurich)?
And why not a solid gold bathtub or a Rolls Royce with a chauffeur? (Laughs) Look, it’s just the kind of comment that, when it’s taken out of context, is just designed to undermine me. I was merely being ironic as a way of highlighting how comical the situation is, with everything that has gone on in this organisation. Some journalists have clearly got into a great “group dynamic” when it comes to talking about me. Anything that is excessive is ridiculous. It’s nothing more than cleverly orchestrated hysteria. My suspension has already been announced, to much fanfare, before a formal enquiry has even been opened.
On that matter, are you concerned you might receive a provisional three-month suspension, as the articles published on Thursday suggest may be the case?
It’s not up to me to reply to that. I invite you to contact the Ethics Committee, which is independent. All I can say is that I am completely calm and that I am as steadfast as the mountains of my native Valais.
Another departure has caused consternation in the last few days, both because of the person involved and the manner in which it came about, namely that of Markus Kattner, the acting secretary general. Why was he summarily sacked?
FIFA released a very clear statement on that matter. I have nothing more to add.
In it you mention a “breach of his… responsibilities”.
Yes, that’s what the statement says. Going forward, the facts will speak for themselves, once again.
On Friday lawyers from the Quinn Emanuel agency revealed a system of remuneration by means of which the former leaders of FIFA, namely Sepp Blatter, Jérôme Valcke and Markus Kattner paid themselves high salaries and bonuses: 79 million from 2011-2015. Is that the reason for his dismissal?
We commissioned a full and proper audit. The current inquiries and audit will confirm this or otherwise very soon. The intermediate conclusions of this audit are surprising to say the least. Nevertheless, I am not going to bring myself down to the level of my adversaries by engaging in unhelpful speculation.
Could the chair of the Audit and Compliance Committee, whose role it is to oversee FIFA’s accounts and ensure it runs properly, have known about this system?
I’ve been asking myself that question for a long time. Perhaps we might start finding an answer in what lies in some of the additional clauses in the contracts they approved.
Do you know when the audit will be finished?
No, I don’t. I think, as was the case last week, that certain findings will be announced as the audit proceeds, and with complete transparency.
This week, the Confederation’s public prosecutor carried out a search of FIFA headquarters in Zurich. Is there a link between that and the initial findings of the internal audit?
I ask you to put that question to the public prosecutor. What I can tell you is that it wasn’t my office or that of the new secretary general that were searched, but that of Markus Kattner.
In recent months, Markus Kattner’s name has come up in a number of affairs dealt with by the Ethics Committee, notably the $10 million paid by South Africa to CONCACAF and the 2 million francs paid by FIFA and Sepp Blatter to Michel Platini. Was his dismissal related to these matters?
As they may form part of a legal proceeding I prefer not to give my opinion on these matters.
Do you fear finding yet more skeletons in the closet?
With everything that is going on at the moment, anything is possible. I requested, with the support of the Council, that a legal and financial audit be carried out so that we can find out exactly what has been going on at FIFA in recent years and whether there have been any abuses. Everyone needs to know that this is a new FIFA, determined to bring transparency and good governance to the organisation. This is a difficult process but those who thought they could carry on with their unscrupulous practices as if nothing had changed and those who wanted to hide this misbehaviour by making up lies should know that we will not tolerate this any longer and will fight them with all our determination for the good of football.
FIFA appears riddled with internal struggles. Is it possible to calmly get on with your job?
My priorities were the Congress in Mexico, to place football at the heart of things, along with the development programs. The decisions we have taken recently are designed to bring some serenity back to FIFA. After everything that has happened, that will take some time. As president I need to surround myself with loyal and impartial people in order to achieve my goals. The recent appointments, notably of the secretary general and her assistants including Zvonimir Boban, demonstrate that we are moving in the right direction.
Are you counting on Fatma Samoura arrival as secretary general to bring some calm?
I know that I can count on her support and congratulate the Council on appointing her. She will bring her talent and experience to FIFA.
Her appointment was a surprise. She is an African woman who has a great deal of experience in diplomacy but not in football. She is not linked to the past. Does she have the ideal profile to head up football administration?
Yes she has the ideal profile, otherwise she would not have been appointed. One thing has struck me. Fatma Samoura is yet to officially start work – she has paid us a visit but only begins on 20 June – but there are people who are already questioning her competence. I wish to make it very clear that I find this wrong and even discriminatory. I fail to see why a woman cannot occupy the highest roles in world football.
What was the appointment process? Did you know her before?
She was recommended to me by some very distinguished people. From that point on things moved very quickly. We could not afford to get this one wrong and miss out on the chance to employ someone of her quality. I was fully convinced, as was the Council.
In 2015 FIFA made a loss for the first time in many years. You have made a commitment to turn the situation around. Are you optimistic you will achieve that aim?
Of course. I am here to get us back on course and I and all my team will give it our all in order to achieve our goal. We will work on bringing administrative costs down for example as well as those costs inherent in organizing major events. In addition we want to use our new image to generate more revenue.
With all that has been going on, have you had any time to actually enjoy watching football?
I enjoy every moment of every match that I get to see. What I really should do is stop playing because every time I do I am in pain for the next month. But quite honestly I could miss out on a night’s sleep for a great match.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1714465860labto1714465860ofdlr1714465860owedi1714465860sni@w1714465860ahsra1714465860w.wer1714465860dna1714465860