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International Football

Infantino's First Crisis As FIFA Chief Intensifies As Prince Ali Accuses Him Of Betrayal

Gianni Infantino’s first crisis as president of FIFA "intensified on Monday" after he was accused of a "complete betrayal" of its members by the "kingmaker" who helped him succeed Sepp Blatter, according to Ben Rumsby of the London TELEGRAPH. Prince Ali bin al-Hussein "launched a scathing attack on Infantino’s covert power grab during the scandal-plagued governing body’s annual congress on Friday, a move that prompted the resignation of the man who helped save it from extinction: audit and compliance chief Domenico Scala." Former FIFA VP Prince Ali "stood against Infantino during February’s election before ensuring his votes handed the Swiss victory" over Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa. Ali said, "The way the vote was put to the members of the FIFA congress, as well as the effect of that vote, was a complete betrayal to all of those who thought they had voted for change, transparency, fair play and reform. ... We were suddenly being asked to approve a change to the statutes that removed the independence of the ethics committee, the audit and compliance committee, the appeals committee and the reform committee" (TELEGRAPH, 5/16).

CONTRACT CONCERNS PLAYED ROLE: SWI reported Infantino "refused to sign his compensation contract" of CHF2M ($2M) per year -- half that of Blatter. The SonntagsZeitung and SonntagsBlick newspapers "both reported that Infantino’s dissatisfaction over his contract, drawn up and presented to him by the FIFA audit and compliance committee, was behind his decision to suggest that the committee be reformed." Scala "was already on difficult terms with the FIFA president when he resigned, since Infantino reacted angrily to the compensation contract presented to him about two weeks ago." He "was reportedly displeased that the contract stipulates he may no longer receive bonus payments." Unlike Infantino’s contract, that of the newly appointed FIFA Secretary General, Fatma Samoura of Senegal, "does allow for a performance-related salary component" (SWI, 5/16).

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