Since his election in 2016 as President of the International Football Federation (FIFA), the Swiss-Italian Gianni Infantino has traveled a lot to Doha, capital of Qatar, host country of the 2022 World Cup (organized from 21 November to December 18). According to the Swiss newspaper Blick, world football leader now lives ” principally “ in Doha, where he “rented a house for himself and his family”, several thousand kilometers from Zurich, where FIFA set up its headquarters in 1932.
“Two of Four Girls” of Mr. Infantino are also educated in Doha, says Blick, which emphasizes that this ” moving house “ took place in October 2021.
“As he communicated in October 2021, the FIFA President has informed the FIFA Council that he will be splitting his presence between Zurich, Doha and the rest of the world, in order to fulfill his presidential duties and be more close to the World Cup, ensures the World a spokesperson for the body. As he did during the Arab Cup, he will work alongside other FIFA staff in our Doha office, when needed, until the end of the tournament. »
Mr. Infantino “remains subject to tax in Switzerland”
“For the avoidance of doubt, Mr. Infantino is domiciled in Switzerland and remains subject to tax”, adds FIFA.
This is the first time that a FIFA president has partially settled in the host country of the next World Cup, more than a year before it is held. In 2018, Mr. Infantino arrived in Russia a few days before the opening of the tournament in order, in particular, to lead the FIFA congress in Moscow.
His Swiss predecessor Sepp Blatter (1998-2015) had the habit of settling in the host country of the World Cup a week before its kickoff. “Under my presidency, we organized World Cups in Japan and South Korea, Germany, South Africa and Brazil. But it would never have occurred to me to move my home to one of these countries,” entrust to World Mr Blatter.
Since the reform of the FIFA statutes in 2016, the president of the organization is supposed to have only a representative and strategic role and not operational. While the emirate announced the delivery of the eight planned stadiums almost a year ahead of schedule, why did Mr. Infantino decide to settle in Doha? And what will be his activities there? Who pays for the rental of their house? Do any of his family members work for the Qatar 2022 Organizing Committee?
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