IRS Complaint Filed sgainst FIFA over Gianni Infantino’s Housekeeper: What Are the Allegations?

FIFA is facing fresh scrutiny after a complaint was filed with the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS), calling for an investigation into allegations involving a housekeeper at the Miami residence of FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

The complaint claims that an individual who received compensation or benefits through a FIFA-affiliated entity performed domestic work exclusively for Infantino and his wife, Leena, at their private residence. The allegations have raised questions about whether resources connected to the world football governing body were used to provide personal services to its president.

The development could have wider implications for FIFA, particularly because the organisation holds tax-exempt status in the United States. However, FIFA has strongly denied the allegations, maintaining that Infantino personally pays for all domestic staff.

The complaint was reported by The Guardian on November 11, 2026, which said it had reviewed the filing and supporting documents.

Why Has an IRS Complaint Been Filed Against FIFA?

The complaint asks the US Internal Revenue Service to examine whether an individual receiving compensation or benefits through a FIFA-related entity was effectively working as a private housekeeper for Infantino and his family.

According to the filing, the individual allegedly carried out domestic duties exclusively for the FIFA president and his wife at their Miami home while receiving compensation through an organisation affiliated with FIFA.

The complaint argues that if FIFA funds or resources were used to pay for services benefiting a senior official's private household, the arrangement could raise concerns about private benefit, financial reporting, compensation and organisational governance.

It also questions whether employment, payroll, tax and immigration records accurately reflected the nature of the individual's work and compensation.

The complaint was submitted by Washington DC-based lawyer Abed Ayoub, who specialises in immigration law and previously served as the national executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

Importantly, the filing is a request for an investigation, not proof of wrongdoing. It does not establish that FIFA misused funds or confirm that the IRS has opened a formal inquiry.

FIFA Denies Paying for Gianni Infantino’s Housekeeper

FIFA has firmly rejected the suggestion that the organisation pays for domestic staff working at Infantino's private residence.

A FIFA spokesperson told The Guardian that matters relating to the president's personal and home life were private. However, the spokesperson made the organisation's position clear, stating that the costs of any domestic staff were met personally by Infantino.

The governing body also criticised the allegations and urged media organisations to report the matter responsibly.

FIFA maintained that it welcomed legitimate scrutiny but described the claims as part of what it considers an ongoing effort to undermine the organisation and its president. It added that it would challenge reporting it considered inaccurate or misleading.

The response puts FIFA's position directly against the claims made in the complaint. Whether the supporting documents lead to further scrutiny by US authorities remains to be seen.

Could FIFA Lose Its US Tax-Exempt Status?

One of the most significant aspects of the FIFA IRS complaint is its potential impact on the organisation's tax-exempt status in the United States.

FIFA operates in the US under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, a classification for certain organisations primarily established to promote social welfare.

The complaint argues that the alleged use of FIFA-linked resources for private household services could raise questions about whether the organisation has complied with the requirements attached to its tax-exempt status.

If an IRS investigation were to substantiate serious violations, FIFA could face significant consequences, potentially including the loss of its tax-exempt status in the country.

However, that possibility remains conditional. The filing itself does not mean FIFA has lost its tax privileges, nor does it confirm that an investigation has begun.

The IRS has been approached for comment. According to The Guardian, if the complaint is taken up, the process could take months. The results of IRS investigations are also not routinely made public, although any resulting enforcement action could become public.

FIFA Faces Wider Scrutiny in the United States

The housekeeper complaint comes at a time when FIFA and Infantino are facing increased attention from political figures in the United States.

Following the Democrats' gains in the US midterm elections, the organisation's activities and Infantino's involvement in the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme, as well as his relationship with the Trump White House, are expected to attract closer scrutiny.

A spokesperson for Representative Jamie Raskin, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, told The Guardian that the committee had not requested documents specifically related to the housekeeper allegations but was "looking closely at those developments".

The distinction is important: the committee's reported interest in wider FIFA developments does not mean it has launched a specific investigation into the housekeeper complaint.

Sepp Blatter Also Criticises Infantino’s Leadership

The latest controversy arrives amid criticism of Infantino from his predecessor, Sepp Blatter, who led FIFA for 17 years before stepping down in 2015 amid a major corruption scandal.

In an interview with German magazine Der Spiegel, Blatter sharply criticised Infantino's leadership, describing him as a "dictator" and questioning several recent decisions by the current FIFA president.

His criticism included the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme, the FIFA peace prize and the decision to overturn the suspension of US forward Folarin Balogun following a red card during the World Cup.

Blatter's remarks add another layer to the scrutiny surrounding FIFA's leadership, although they are separate from the IRS complaint and its allegations.

What Happens Next in the FIFA IRS Complaint?

For now, attention will turn to whether the IRS decides to examine the complaint and the documents submitted alongside it.

Any potential inquiry would need to establish how the individual was employed, which entity provided the compensation and whether FIFA-related resources were used for private household services.

FIFA continues to maintain that Infantino personally pays for domestic staff and has rejected the allegations as false.

The complaint has nevertheless brought renewed attention to questions about FIFA's financial practices, accountability and the responsibilities of its leadership.

For Infantino, the immediate challenge is to navigate the growing scrutiny while defending the organisation's position. For FIFA, the issue could become another test of its transparency and governance as it continues to operate under the spotlight of international football and US authorities.