With compensation potentially comparable to the reported annual salary of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, estimated at around $64 million
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Figure timeline
Gianni Infantino
Giovanni Vincenzo "Gianni" Infantino is a Swiss football administrator who has served as the president of FIFA since 2016. He was previously Secretary General of UEFA from 2009 to 2016, where he formalised the body's financial regulations and oversaw tournament expansion, such as the UEFA Nations League. He has been an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member since 2020.
Swiss football administrator (born 1970) · sports official · lawyer · sports executive · association football player · also Gianni Infantino, Infantino
Born 23 March 1970 · Q124138
99 published statements · 0 followers
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Giovanni Vincenzo Infantino
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Look at qualifiers now where some teams who have never qualified did and some teams which have always qualified didn’t make it. So it created a completely new dynamic in the qualification. It created new enthusiasm. If you are serious about developing football it must involve more associations in the best football event in the world: The World Cup.
- Quote
If you think fans in general have the opportunity and right to give raise to their opinions in the way they do best. They are booing their team, they are booing opponents, they are booing the Uefa Champions League anthem. We have to not be offended by it, live with it and to make things always better and try to prove and show people what is down in our heart is football basically. I am looking forward very positively and I hope I can convince as many people as possible.
- Quote
America is a country of immigration. My parents emigrated as well from Italy to Switzerland. Not so far, but still. “When you give work to somebody, even in hard conditions, you give him dignity and pride. It’s not charity. You don’t make charity. You don’t give something to somebody and say, ‘Stay where you are. I give you something and I feel good.’
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“When you have a function in football like mine with responsibilities you have to assume responsibility when times are difficult, to put yourself forward in order to try to change this and bring messages forward.”
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“There is no stepping down or whatever.”
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“Look at qualifiers now where some teams who have never qualified did and some teams which have always qualified didn’t make it. So it created a completely new dynamic in the qualification. It created new enthusiasm. If you are serious about developing football it must involve more associations in the best football event in the world: The World Cup.”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
- #trusted-source
- #www.theguardian.com
- #corroborated
“If you think fans in general have the opportunity and right to give raise to their opinions in the way they do best. They are booing their team, they are booing opponents, they are booing the Uefa Champions League anthem. We have to not be offended by it, live with it and to make things always better and try to prove and show people what is down in our heart is football basically. I am looking forward very positively and I hope I can convince as many people as possible.”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
- #trusted-source
- #www.theguardian.com
- #corroborated
“America is a country of immigration. My parents emigrated as well from Italy to Switzerland. Not so far, but still. “When you give work to somebody, even in hard conditions, you give him dignity and pride. It’s not charity. You don’t make charity. You don’t give something to somebody and say, ‘Stay where you are. I give you something and I feel good.’”
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“and of course FIFA is not the police of the world or responsible for everything that happens around the world. But thanks to FIFA, thanks to football we have been able to address the status of all the 1.5 million workers, working in Qatar.”
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The Guardian: Infantino’s opponents developing new framework for running world football
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The Guardian: Fifa defends Gianni Infantino and launches attack after ‘effort to undermine’ president
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The Guardian: Fifa president Gianni Infantino denies claims Uefa paid off alleged ‘lover’
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The Guardian: Two weeks that rocked Fifa: how Gianni Infantino unravelled, day by day
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The Guardian: Infantino’s World Cup sell-off debacle has rocked football but Fifa’s crisis has deep and rotten roots
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The Guardian: The Guardian view on Gianni Infantino: in the interests of the game he professes to love, he should go | Editorial
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The Guardian: Mexico and Argentina line up behind Infantino to deepen football’s civil war
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Reported claimRated The claim is false. There is no credible evidence, official announcement, or reliable reporting that Infantino plans to resign or is expected to step down. He remains FIFA President and has publicly confirmed his intention to seek re-election in 2027. · DigitEye India
DigitEye India rated the claim “Viral post claims that FIFA President Gianni Infantino is expected to step down from his position.” The claim is false. There is no credible evidence, official announcement, or reliable reporting that Infantino plans to resign or is expected to step down. He remains FIFA President and has publicly confirmed his intention to seek re-election in 2027..
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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Public attention spiked: 124,772 Wikipedia readers in one day, 4.7× the usual 26,498, with 45 article edits. Editors noted: Rescuing 66 sources and tagging 0 as dead.) #IABot (v2.0.9.5
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Snopes rated the claim “The crowd at the 2026 World Cup Final booed when U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino walked onto the pitch to present the tournament's trophy to Spain.” True.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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Public attention spiked: 189,869 Wikipedia readers in one day, 7.2× the usual 26,498, with 12 article edits. Editors noted: Undid revision 1365025637. Take it to the talk page.
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Public attention spiked: 122,515 Wikipedia readers in one day, 4.6× the usual 26,498, with 1 article edits. Editors noted: Remove section with improper WP:TONE; Italy controversy/Iran inclusion already included in article
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Public attention spiked: 87,138 Wikipedia readers in one day, 3.3× the usual 26,498, with 17 article edits. Editors noted: Awards small fixes to cited sources
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Lead Stories rated the claim “Video shows FIFA President Gianni Infantino making a phone call at Egypt-Argentina game” Another Match.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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Lead Stories rated the claim “Video shows FIFA President Gianni Infantino reacting to a goal by Egypt against Argentina.” Another Game.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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Lead Stories rated the claim “Image shows FIFA President Gianni Infantino looking anxious after Messi missed a penalty against Egypt” Different Game.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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AFP Fact Check rated the claim “FIFA President Gianni Infantino vaccinating Argentinian football player Lionel Messi” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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Public attention spiked: 207,406 Wikipedia readers in one day, 7.8× the usual 26,498, with 56 article edits. Editors noted: World Cup 2026 Folarin Balogun suspension controversy
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Lead Stories rated the claim “Real images show FIFA president Gianni Infantino attending two simultaneous games in different cities” Different Days.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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fact checker rated the claim “Infantino attended two Group E matches in the final round of the 2026 World Cup group stage.” fake.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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Won Medal of Friendship (2026).
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Won: Mongolia (2026).
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Lead Stories rated the claim “Dutch football legend Ruud Gullit published an open letter calling on FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign amid controversy surrounding U.S. immigration policies.” Denied.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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Infantino criticised sports journalism in world football calling critics of his FIFA tenure "hypocritical" and counter-productive
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Snopes.com rated the claim “U.S. President Donald Trump pocketed a medal given to him by FIFA president Gianni Infantino during the trophy ceremony of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.” True.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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Snopes rated the claim “Video authentically shows FIFA President Gianni Infantino criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump for taking the FIFA Club World Cup trophy.” Fake.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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Lead Stories rated the claim “FIFA President Gianni Infantino attacked U.S. President Donald Trump over his role in the football Club World Cup Final trophy presentation, saying he "stole the glory that belongs to us"” Fake Audio.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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Won: Bolivian Football Federation (2025).
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Awarded Order of Friendship (2025).
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Won: Kosovo (2025).
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Awarded honorary citizenship (2025).
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Won: Uzbekistan (2025).
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Won Presidential Medal of Merit (2025).
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“s World Cup would be expanded to 48 teams. Infantino emphasised that the expansion would help more FIFA members develop their women”
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Won: CONMEBOL (2024).
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Won: National Olympic Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic (2023).
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Won: Indonesia (2023).
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Won: Asian Football Confederation (2023).
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The FIFA Council ruled Infantino's first three years in office did not count towards the 12-year term limit, legally allowing him to remain president until 2031
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Awarded Order of Boyacá (2022).
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Won: Colombia (2022).
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Infantino expanded FIFA's Club World Cup from a seven-team annual event to a quadrennial, 32-team tournament with a $1 billion prize pool and a new trophy on which Infantino's name is engraved twice, describing him as th
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He moved his official residency to Zug, Switzerland, in June 2022.
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To incorporate 32 clubs and introduced the FIFA Series in 2024 to supplement international friendlies
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But retreated in March 2022 after fierce opposition from UEFA and major domestic leagues over player welfare and financial concerns
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Career landmark: member of the International Olympic Committee (2020).
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Awarded Order of Friendship presented by Vladimir Putin (2019).
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Awarded Order of the Nigeria (2019).
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Won: Congo (2019).
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“Our position is clear and firm. Women have to be allowed into football stadiums in Iran. Now is the moment to change things.”
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Won: Russia (2018).
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Documents leaked to Der Spiegel revealed Infantino secretly intervened to rewrite FIFA's code of ethics, restricting preliminary investigations and instituting a 10-year statute of limitations on historical corruption
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Infantino criticised the United States' travel ban on several Muslim-majority nations
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Awarded Order of Merit of Niger (2017).
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Won: Italian National Olympic Committee (2017).
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Awarded Gold Collar for Sports Merit (2017).
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Won: Niger (2017).
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Won: Bolivia (2016).
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Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of the Condor of the Andes (2016).
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Career landmark: president of FIFA (2016).
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And 2017, while Lauber's office was investigating corruption in international football
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The Greek government decided to introduce a new sports law in response to a scandal and acts of violence and corruption, mainly in Greek football
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Received the backing of the UEFA Executive Committee to stand for the position of president in the 2016 FIFA Extraordinary Congress
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“Naturalmente io non sono Qatari, arabo, migrante, gay, disabile. Ma so che cosa voglia dire essere discriminato, so che cosa vuole dire essere straniero in un Paese straniero. Da bambino mi bullizzavano perché avevo i capelli rossi, perché ero italiano e non parlavo bene il tedesco. Ma tu accetti la sfida, provi a farti degli amici, nuovi contatti, non rispondi all'insulto con l'insulto.”
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“[le persone straniere omosessuali in Qatar] saranno accolte senza discriminazioni, nonostante le leggi che criminalizzano i rapporti sessuali tra persone dello stesso sesso. Per quello che noi europei abbiamo fatto negli ultimi 3.000 anni dovremmo scusarci per i prossimi 3.000 anni, prima di dare lezioni morali agli altri. Queste lezioni morali sono solo ipocrisia”
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“Our mission - the mission of the hundreds of passionate, dedicated, and exemplary Fifa employees - is to serve football. A president must bring people together, unite them, and inspire them. Today, we are experiencing the opposite.”
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“Citazioni in ordine temporale.”
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“The money of Fifa is your money. It’s not the money of the Fifa president. It’s your money. You are the national associations and the money of Fifa has to serve for the development of football and not for anything else.”
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“Il calcio è un valore dominante per moltissime persone nel mondo e impatta le vite di più gente di quanta immaginiamo.”
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“Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support.”
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“Tutto il mondo sa che tifo Inter, una squadra che ti fa soffrire ma che quando vince ti dà una gioia enorme. I miei idoli erano Altobelli e Beccalossi.”
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“Il calcio va restituito alla Fifa e la Fifa al calcio.”
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“In Italia la situazione del razzismo non è migliorata e questo è grave. ... La situazione non mai è migliorata: ogni volta che succede qualche cosa ne parlano tutti, poi si tende a dimenticare. Bisogna invece esser pesanti e combattere il razzismo, senza abbassare mai la guardia, con pene esemplari.”
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“Jest odbiciem starego dobrego Seppa Blattera, sprzed trzech, czterech dekad.Oby w przeciwieństwie do jego poprzednika, władza nie zmieniła go na gorsze.”
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“Today I have strong feelings. Today I feel Qatari, I feel Arab, I feel African, I feel gay, I feel disabled, I feel a migrant worker.”
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“I will work tirelessly to bring football back to Fifa, and Fifa back to football.”
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“Noi [della Fifa] difendiamo i diritti umani, abbiamo ottenuto grandi risultati, ad esempio anche per donne in Sudan. Ci sono tante sfide in corso. Dobbiamo dare il benvenuto a tutti: i gay sono benvenuti, dobbiamo discutere di questo.”
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“La Fifa sta attraversando un periodo difficilissimo, ammettiamolo. Benché la sua reputazione sembra compromessa, io penso che se riusciamo a riportarla al centro del villaggio, riformandola con lungimiranza e trasparenza, la Fifa tornerà a essere un'istituzione seria e rispettata.”
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“Già da qualche anno dicevo che questo Mondiale sarebbe stato il migliore della storia, oggi posso affermarlo con convinzione: si tratta della migliore Coppa del Mondo di tutti i tempi [...]. La percezione della Russia è cambiata. Migliaia di persone hanno visitato il Paese durante il Mondiale e hanno scoperto un bel paese, un paese ospitale, ricco di storia e cultura.”
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“La situazione è terribile in Iran, non la ignoriamo. Sono stato varie volte in Iran e dopo anni di discussioni siamo riusciti a ottenere che le donne entrassero negli stadi. Sono piccoli segnali. La Fifa non è l'Onu, ma non dimentichiamo nulla”
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“Anche in Europa non si possono comprare alcolici negli stadi. Penso che stare tre ore senza bere birra non sia poi un grande sacrificio, no?”
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“[Sul calcio femminile] È una realtà, qualcosa incredibile, i Mondiali di Francia di questa estate hanno avuto più di un miliardo di telespettatori. ... Le ragazze giocano al calcio in maniera spettacolare, come Fifa ci crediamo moltissimo e continuiamo a investire.”
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Career landmark: UEFA General Secretary (2009–2016).
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And Secretary General of UEFA in October 2009
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Born 1970-03-23.
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Awarded Order of Merit.
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Career landmark: Panama Papers.
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Career landmark: Participated in FII 6th Edition in Riyadh (tournament / event).
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Career landmark: Participated in World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022 (tournament / event).
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Career landmark: Participated in Global Conference 2022 (tournament / event).
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Studied at University of Neuchâtel.
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Studied at University of Fribourg.
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