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Gianni Infantino planned to bank 22million salary PLUS bonuses before FIFA ploy collapsed

Gianni Infantino has come under waves of criticism for a controversial World Cup as well as FIFA plans to sell commercial stakes in their premier footballing competitions

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Gianni Infantino has been criticised this summer(Image: Getty Images)

Gianni Infantino looked to bag a staggering 22.2million salary through FIFA's proposed Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme, only for the proposal to spark widespread fury. UEFA and the FA condemned plans for the organisation to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors, with member associations vowing to boycott the tournament altogether.

As per the Times, Infantino could have made tens of millions of pounds through the scheme, which has since been canned following backlash. Meanwhile, UEFA claim that they have lost confidence in the FIFA president as a result.

A statement from the European football governing body read: "We cannot keep going on like this with secret schemes on fast track timescales, cooked up by faceless individuals and of dubious benefit to the game. We must identify those responsible and hold them to account.

It is right that, in the coming days and weeks, UEFA will work with its associations and in close cooperation with other confederations to reflect on how this happened and devise a plan to make sure that it cannot occur again. That review should be thorough and fundamental.

"No option should be off the table. The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA's confidence, but also that of many other members of the football family."

The English FA also supported UEFA's stance, with a spokesperson for the organisation adding: " We fully support UEFA's position. It is time for a full and robust review of FIFA's leadership and governance to ensure that the global game is run transparently, for the benefit of all 211 member nations and with the long-term stewardship of football at its heart."

CONCACAF, meanwhile, are in favour of a " comprehensive reckoning" of Infantino's presidency, adding in their own statement: " It is a symptom of leadership that has stopped putting football first. This recent unilateral and egregious act of poor governance and leadership follows a pattern of missteps and similar behaviour."

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While Infantino claimed that the idea of the FFE was simply a consultation exercise, sources close to the scheme claim that the intention was for the FIFA president to become a chief executive or commissioner.

That would have seen him land a salary of around 22.2m annually, before bonuses. FIFA refute claims that the idea was discussed, however.

A statement from Infantino read: " The FFE project was intended to provide a basis for further strengthening our FIFA member associations and our sport worldwide, especially in those countries where support is most needed.

"And, as we said from the outset, to do this only if a majority of the member associations were in support and always subject to a consultation process with them, the FIFA council, the confederations and wider stakeholders.

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Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.

"Our purpose has always been - and will always be - to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.

"Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support."

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