Fifa’s gravy train has ground to a halt

– Fifa president Gianni Infantino (right) will be paid a salary of 1.5 million Swiss francs ($1.53 million) a year, less than a quarter of that received by his predecessor Sepp Blatter, football’s world governing body announced this week.

Infantino, who was elected on February 26, will also get a “car and lodging free of charge during his term and contribution to expenses in accordance with Fifa’s expenses regulations”, Fifa said.

He is also entitled to bonus payments, though there would not be any this year because the bonus system had been open to “dysfunction and abuse” and needed to be reformed, Fifa said.

“Bonus payments from 2017 on-

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wards will be awarded in accordance with criteria related to Fifa’s mission and operations as well as the outcome of the organisational reforms, now being implemented,” said the statement.

Fifa secretary-general Fatma Samoura will be paid 1.3 million Swiss francs per year plus the same benefits as Infantino.

Fifa said in June Blatter and two other leading officials were involved in a “coordinated attempt” to enrich themselves through salary increases and bonuses.

Tomaz Vesel, head of the compensation sub-committee, said the amounts were “appropriate considering the challenging duties” which Infantino and Samoura faced. – Reuters