February 15 – FIFA’s post-World Cup bonanza is also benefitting the organisation’s most senior personnel. President Gianni Infantino and secretary general Fatma Samoura enjoyed bonuses in excess of $600,000 on top of their salaries and benefits.
FIFA reported record revenues of $7.6 billion from its first World Cup in the Middle East and the organisation’s reserves stand at almost $4 billion. The 2026 World Cup, hosted by the triumvirate of the United States, Canada and Mexico, promises even more riches with a revenue projection of $11 billion.
The annual report revealed that Infantino’s bonus rose to $673,000. His pre-tax base salary and bonus package totalled $3.9 million. This comes on top of a lavish lifestyle, jetting around the world on FIFA business with all his expenses and benefits paid. The FIFA president resides in Doha, Qatar.
Perhaps even more eye-catching is the doubling of Fatma Samoura’s bonus to $650,000. FIFA’s secretary general thus enjoys a total package of $2.06 million.
In 2016, she became the first female secretary general of FIFA, but following a dramatic deployment to Africa as the delegate for the continent, she ultimately had to depart on CAF’s insistence. Samoura has become an inceasingly isolated figure at FIFA, often seen to perform both ceremonial and social media duties.
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