Private jets, Putin and the Pope: Infantino's incredible largesse laid bare

Gianni Infantino’s FIFA tenure is under renewed scrutiny after details of a 2016 ethics investigation—never fully disclosed—were described as raising questions about his conduct from the start. According to the report, Infantino accepted seats on private jets linked to Vladimir Putin’s Russian government and Qatar’s emir, and turned an invitation to meet Pope Francis into a private trip for his elderly mother. The account also alleges he refused to sign a contract worth 2m Swiss francs, appointed an inner staff outside pay-structure norms, and spent FIFA funds on personal items, including football boots and a tuxedo. All seven charges were cleared by investigator Vanessa Allard, a magistrate in the Cayman Islands.