Fifa: Gianni Infantino lures associations with billions in payout before re-election

According to reports, FIFA is planning a large distribution to its member associations. Citing a Fifa document, the US news agency AP and "The Athletic" report that the world football association, headed by the controversial President Gianni Infantino, wants to distribute 6.35 billion US dollars (around 5.6 billion euros) between 2027 and 2030.

This apparently includes a significantly increased payment of 25 million dollars (around 22.3 million euros) per member association in the next four-year cycle. So far, the associations have each received ten million dollars. According to "The Athletic", an additional $99 million will be made available to the six continental associations.

FIFA justifies the distribution with the great commercial success of the World Cup in the summer and wants to "promote investments in the development of football in the 211 member associations, the continental associations and other shareholders."

UEFA, as Infantino's harshest critic, had asked the FIFA boss, among other things, to pay at least ten million US dollars per national association in a catalog of measures for comprehensive reforms in view of the huge World Cup winnings. Now the Swiss is apparently adding another surcharge on top. Payments to the 211 national associations have always been a common tool in the election campaign for FIFA leadership.

Approval of the financial plan by Congress in March

The document, dated October 14, states that the financial plan will be finalized by the FIFA Council in December and approved at the FIFA Congress in March 2027, reports AP. At this congress in Morocco, Infantino wants to be re-elected as president of the world association. His opponents have not yet been able to present their own candidate.

The Swiss has come under massive criticism after going it alone for a marketing plan for the World Cup businesses. Uefa as the European umbrella organization, like the German Football Association, is calling for an end to Infantino's term as FIFA boss.

On Thursday, at the FIFA Council meeting in Zurich, Infantino will meet his critics, who belong to the world association body through their UEFA offices. The 56-year-old currently still has a sufficient power base through supporters from Africa, Asia, South America and Oceania.

55 officials from the European Football Association agreed in Berlin: Gianni Infantino must be replaced as FIFA boss. Read here why UEFA is now concerned with more than just personnel.