FIFA accuses media of coordinated campaign to undermine Infantino after Times apology

FIFA has called out what it describes as a “concerted and ongoing effort” to undermine president Gianni Infantino, seizing on a published apology from The Times that retracted inaccurate reporting about his finances.

The Times had claimed last week that Infantino received a second salary from FIFA that went undeclared. The newspaper subsequently removed the claims, issued a formal correction, and apologised to both FIFA and Infantino, acknowledging there was “no second salary” and that Swiss reporting requirements did not oblige FIFA to disclose expenses and reimbursements as compensation.

The Times also retracted a separate claim that Infantino had purchased a property in Miami at a suspected undervalue, and acknowledged that neither he nor his family are the legal or beneficial owners of Shadi LLC.

FIFA posted a statement via its official account on X, quoting the correction in full before using it to address what the organisation characterises as a wider pattern of hostile coverage. “It is evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its President,” the statement read. “FIFA urges the media to act responsibly and carefully verify all sourcing to prevent the publication and subsequent reproduction of false and defamatory information.”

The governing body added that it “welcomes legitimate scrutiny” but argued that scrutiny “is not a license to amplify false allegations.”

The intervention comes at a sensitive moment for Infantino, who has faced significant pressure over a separate proposal to sell private-equity stakes in the FIFA World Cup. That plan has drawn sharp criticism from UEFA and other parties, with some calling for his resignation as president. FIFA’s statement did not address the substance of those concerns but framed the media coverage around them as part of the same coordinated campaign.

Infantino, 56, has led FIFA since 2016 and is currently overseeing preparations for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.