Infantino under pressure from congressional investigations

Pressure is mounting on FIFA President Gianni Infantino as the US Congress enters a new phase of investigations into his ties to President Donald Trump and several of his associates. Legal proceedings are expected to begin early next year, potentially forcing Infantino to provide documents and answer questions on controversial matters. These developments come at a particularly sensitive time for the FIFA president, who is preparing to run for re-election in March. The return of the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives is expected to give the investigations renewed momentum, as the Judiciary Committee now has broader powers to subpoena relevant individuals and obtain requested documents. The committee began its investigation last July to examine the nature of Infantino's relationship with the Trump administration, before expanding its scope to include other issues, most notably the circumstances surrounding the employment of a migrant domestic worker at Infantino's luxurious Miami residence and who paid for her services. The information under investigation indicates that Infantino enlisted Carlos Cordeiro, who acted as an intermediary in his communications with Trump, to help obtain a work permit for the domestic worker. Documents show that she was listed on FIFA's payroll in the Americas, raising questions about the potential use of federation resources to cover personal expenses. Critics are calling for a thorough review of these transactions to ensure there were no irregularities concerning the organization's funds and assets. FIFA maintains its position, rejecting any accusations, explaining that Infantino personally covers the costs of his household staff and that details of his private life are not a corporate matter. The federation also denies any wrongdoing in the worker's employment conditions. The Judicial Committee's ability to act is expected to be strengthened in January with the appointment of Democrat Jamie Raskin as its chairman, granting him the power to issue subpoenas and compel parties to produce requested documents. Raskin had previously requested FIFA's records of communications with Trump, his administration, and his business empire, along with other documents, not all of which have yet reached the committee. The investigation doesn't stop at the case of the domestic worker; it extends to commercial and financial ties linking FIFA to the US president's inner circle, particularly concerning the proposed sale of shares in the commercial rights to FIFA tournaments, most notably the World Cup, to private investors. The name of Thrive Eternal, a company associated with Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, has emerged among the entities linked to the investment project. This has raised questions about the nature of the proposed agreements and the decision-making mechanisms within FIFA. The likelihood of summoning members of the Kushner family to testify in January is increasing, as part of an effort to uncover details of the commercial relationships and communications surrounding the project. Current indications, however, do not suggest that Trump himself will be among those summoned at this stage. Meanwhile, Raskin continues to press for answers regarding the issues raised, after members of the committee criticized FIFA's level of cooperation, arguing that the information provided so far is insufficient to clarify several matters, including the nature of the payments and communications with US officials.On the other hand, the White House has previously described these moves as partisan, while defending the economic gains generated by the World Cup. Infantino's relationship with Trump has intensified the controversy recently, particularly after the US president was awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, and following Trump's intervention regarding the suspension of US striker Folarin Balogun. Trump admitted to pressuring FIFA officials to overturn the player's suspension after his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina. In another development that could have implications for the investigations, Emilio Garcia Silvero announced his resignation as FIFA's chief legal officer after eight years with the organization. During his tenure, he oversaw disciplinary matters, transfer regulations, contractual disputes, and legal issues related to tournaments. The former legal officer may become a figure of interest to investigators, given the nature of the cases he handled, at a time when questions are mounting about FIFA's management and its commercial and political ties. Between the US investigations and preparations for the upcoming elections, Infantino finds himself facing a challenging period, as his efforts to remain at the head of FIFA coincide with escalating demands for transparency and clarification regarding a number of issues that have become of interest to regulatory bodies.