Complaint filed to US IRS alleges Fifa-paid worker served as Gianni Infantino’s housekeeper

A complaint was filed to the United States Internal Revenue Service on 11 November 2026 alleging that a person on Fifa’s payroll worked privately as a housekeeper for Fifa president Gianni Infantino at his Miami residence. The filing warns that if the claims are proven Fifa could lose its tax-exempt status in the United States.

The complaint, seen by the Guardian and supported by a number of documents, notes that Fifa holds 501(c)(4) status in the US, a category for organisations "created to promote community welfare for charitable, educational or recreational purposes". It asserts an individual "performed domestic work exclusively for Fifa president Gianni Infantino and his wife, Leena Infantino, at their Miami residence, while receiving compensation or benefits through a Fifa-affiliated entity" and argues that "senior leadership, acting in their official capacity and on behalf of Fifa, have abused the entity’s tax-exemption status". The filing adds: “If organisational funds or resources were used to pay for services benefiting a leader’s household, the arrangement raises serious questions about private benefit, financial reporting, compensation, and governance. The materials also raise questions about the accuracy of representations in employment, payroll, tax, and immigration records. We ask the agencies to investigate the underlying records and determine what occurred.”

The complaint was submitted by Washington DC lawyer Abed Ayoub, described in the filing as an immigration lawyer who has served as national executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC). The article states that last year the ADC took part in the campaign Game Over Israel, which called for Israeli football teams to be banned from international competition.

The IRS has been approached for comment. The filing notes that, if taken up, an IRS investigation would probably take months to complete and that commonly the results of IRS investigations are not published; it adds that any action taken as a result would be in the public domain.

The complaint arrives as Fifa’s activities — and specifically Infantino’s involvement in the failed Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme and his relationship with the Trump White House — are expected to face intensified scrutiny from Democratic politicians in the US after the "blue wave" at the midterm elections. A spokesperson for the ranking member of the House judiciary committee, representative Jamie Raskin, said the committee had not requested documents related to the housekeeper but was "looking closely at those developments".

A Fifa spokesperson said: “Matters related to the Fifa president’s personal and home life are private; however, for the avoidance of any doubt, the costs of any domestic staff are met by the Fifa president personally.” In a separate statement Fifa said: “We urge the media to act responsibly. As Fifa stated in August, it is evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine Fifa and its president. Fifa welcomes legitimate scrutiny. But scrutiny is not a licence to amplify false allegations. Where reporting is inaccurate or misleading Fifa will continue to challenge it directly and vigorously.”

Sepp Blatter, Infantino’s predecessor as Fifa president, is quoted in an interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel describing Infantino as a “dictator” who “no longer knows any borders”. Blatter criticised the FFE scheme, the Fifa peace prize and the overturning of Folarin Balogun’s suspension, saying: “Fifa is suffering,” and “It is currently led by a person who has allowed himself to be blinded.” He called the peace prize “embarrassing” and asked: “Why would he do something like that? Infantino awards a peace prize to someone who wages war against Iran shortly afterwards?” Blatter added: “Infantino no longer knows any borders. He doesn’t understand any of this.” On the Balogun matter he said it was “the worst”, arguing: “Statutes can be interpreted. But rules of the game must apply to everyone, you can’t interpret them.”

Both the IRS and Fifa have been approached for comment; if the agencies choose to pursue the matter the complaint indicates the process would likely be protracted and any formal action taken would enter the public record.