Reformer or ringleader: A decade on, What is Infantino's legacy as FIFA president?
Key takeaways
- After the previous regime of Sepp Blatter had been brought down by bribery and corruption, Infantino was soccer's new man of the people: approachable, engaging and ready to restore the game's reputation.
- Ten years on, the Swiss-Italian lawyer is the most powerful man in the game.
- He earns $6 million a year, and has world leaders -- including U.S.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
After the previous regime of Sepp Blatter had been brought down by bribery and corruption, Infantino was soccer's new man of the people: approachable, engaging and ready to restore the game's reputation.
Ten years on, the Swiss-Italian lawyer is the most powerful man in the game.
He earns $6 million a year, and has world leaders -- including U.S. President Donald Trump, Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and President Vladimir Putin of Russia -- on speed dial. He flies on a jet provided by the state of Qatar, and when he returned to Cardiff earlier this year for the annual International Football Association Board (IFAB) summit at the luxury Vale of Glamorgan resort, a decade on from that celebratory night at the bar, Infantino stayed next door at the 17th-century Hensol Castle.