FIFA President Gianni Infantino receives apology from The Times

The British newspaper The Times has issued a formal apology and correction to FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, following an inaccurate report published on October 13. The original article alleged that Infantino received an undisclosed “second salary” and suggested he had purchased a property in Miami at an undervalued rate through a company called Shadi LLC.

The newspaper retracted these claims, clarifying that there was no “second salary.” Under Swiss reporting requirements, expenses and reimbursements received by Infantino are not classified as “compensation” and therefore do not need to be included in FIFA’s annual reports. Additionally, The Times admitted that Infantino did not purchase a Miami property at a suspected undervalue, nor do he or his family hold legal ownership or control over Shadi LLC.

FIFA responded to the apology by stating that there appears to be a “concerted and ongoing effort” by some to undermine the organization and its president. While welcoming legitimate scrutiny, the governing body urged media outlets to verify sources carefully to avoid spreading false and defamatory information.