Swiss, French Media: Infantino’s Monthly Rent for His Apartment Exceeds Euros, Paid by FIFA

In the midst of FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s concerns over the commercial development and hosting matters of the Club World Cup, the media seems unwilling to give him a moment’s respite. On September 22, Swiss media outlet Blick reported that besides enjoying a generous salary provided by FIFA, Infantino also possesses a luxurious lakeside apartment with a monthly rent of 8370 euros, with the leasing costs fully covered by FIFA.

The French newspaper L’Équipe quickly followed up with reports on Infantino’s lavish lifestyle. According to FIFA’s annual report, as the president of FIFA, Infantino received a salary of 41.37 million Swiss francs (equivalent to 43.5 million euros) in 2013. The report reiterated that Infantino adhered to his commitment to “greater transparency” in implementing FIFA’s relevant regulations.

However, the benefits enjoyed by Infantino seem less transparent than claimed. Swiss media Blick revealed this Sunday that Infantino owns a luxurious penthouse with a spacious terrace overlooking Lake Zug (located between Lucerne and Zurich), with monthly costs (7950 Swiss francs, approximately 8370 euros) fully borne by FIFA.

However, the report also mentioned that the lease contract for the apartment was signed by FIFA’s head of human resources and chief lawyer, who pointed out that all of Infantino’s remuneration and benefits are stipulated in contracts and set by an independent committee. A FIFA spokesperson once publicly explained, “This aligns with the standard compensation packages for senior executives in many Swiss organizations.”

This is not the first time Infantino has been embroiled in controversy over personal benefits. In November 2022, SonntagsZeitung already reported that the busy FIFA president had a residence in Qatar and moved his Swiss residence from Küsnacht to Zug, allowing him to halve his personal tax bill.