Infantino Faces Airport Perks Scrutiny, a Japanese Challenger and a $15bn World Cup
Photo: The GuardianFIFA president Gianni Infantino's office asked Miami airport for VIP escorts for his daughters and their dogs on a trip to Qatar, the Times reported on Thursday. Airport spokesman Greg Chin confirmed FIFA made the requests. He said Infantino heads a nongovernmental organization and staffers were free, so the service was granted. Airport protocol logs show his wife and daughters across 95 records, 125 appearances since January 2024. Sixty-three records have no entry for him. Leena Infantino appears 46 times and he appears 24. Protocol says courtesies are not extended to families traveling alone.
On the same day, Kozo Tashima, 68, honorary president of the Japan Football Association, said he will run against Infantino in the March FIFA election. He is the second challenger after former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega. Candidates must declare by November 18. Infantino is seeking a fourth and final term and has the Asian Football Confederation's endorsement. FIFA has said the 2026 World Cup earned $15bn, above its projections.
The right-leaning Daily Mail and New York Post lead with the airport perks. The Mail cites documents it reviewed showing dozens of family uses between 2024 and 2026. The Post adds log counts, the daughters' names and sports-law expert Antoine Duval's view that it could be an abuse of position. The left-leaning Guardian instead examines the World Cup's $15bn revenue, including $5bn from tickets and hospitality, and criticizes FIFA's creative choices. It does not mention the airport story. Al Jazeera, an alternative source, covers Tashima's challenge and Infantino's strong re-election position.
How the sides differ Right sources stress Infantino's family airport perks and ethics; left sources focus on World Cup revenue; alternative sources report Tashima's election challenge.
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The Guardian treats the World Cup's $15bn revenue, including about $5bn from tickets and hospitality, as proof of Infantino's strategy, while criticizing FIFA's entertainment and rule choices.
Al Jazeera leads with Kozo Tashima's candidacy, quoting his statement on integrity and noting Vega's earlier challenge, the AFC's endorsement of Infantino and the November 18 deadline.
- New York PostFIFA boss Gianni Infantino accused of ‘abuse of power’ over VIP Miami airport perks for wife, kids: experts
- Washington TimesPaywallFIFA council member Tashima to run against Infantino in election, Japanese media report
The Daily Mail and New York Post lead with Miami airport VIP treatment for Infantino's family, citing records, airport spokesman Greg Chin and sports-governance expert Antoine Duval on possible ethics breaches.