Manchester City’s serious financial whistleblower says FIFA president Gianni Infantino helped the club and Paris Saint-Germain avoid Financial Fair Play sanctions.
Manchester City have been found guilty of breaching the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-year period, although they remain steadfast in their denial of any wrongdoing.
The investigation into City was launched after information was released into the public domain via the Football Leaks website, set up by Rui Pinto.
Bento has now said Infantino has intervened to help City and Paris Saint-Germain avoid Financial Fair Play sanctions from UEFA.
“In 2014, there was a man who was already aware of irregularities related to Manchester City,” 37-year-old Portuguese Pinto wrote on Wednesday.
“UEFA’s notorious Secretary General, Gianni Infantino, abused his power, shared secret documents and, in short, outmaneuvered the investigative chamber and did everything in his power to ensure that Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain received only a fine, avoiding a deeper investigation that could have led to a Champions League ban.”
“All these details were also revealed by Football Leaks.
He added: “Given his actions as Secretary General of UEFA, and more recently as President of FIFA, I can only say, in my humble opinion, that Gianni Infantino has become a cancer in football and should have no place in the future of the game.”
When these allegations first emerged, UEFA insisted that assistance in such matters fell within the remit of the Secretary-General, explaining that this could include discussions, meetings, assistance to find solutions and other interactions to support the investigating body.
Likewise, Infantino defended his involvement, arguing that his role naturally involved “discussions” and “conversations”, as well as the exchange of documents, drafts and ideas across a wide range of issues.
He added that if those interactions were portrayed negatively, there would be little he could do other than carry out his job in an “honest” and “professional manner”, while seeking to protect the interests of football.
More pressure on Infantino
The allegations add to the pressure on FIFA president Infantino, who has come under fire following his now-delayed plans to sell World Cup stakes to private investors.
The Swiss official lost a wave of support for his position as a result, with UEFA calling on him to step down, but he indicated his plans to run for re-election in March 2027.
UEFA has accused Infantino of “criminal mismanagement” over the FIFA Forward Plan (FFE), while the Swiss Football Association (SFV) is the latest association to withdraw its support for the FIFA president.
“The decision comes after a comprehensive reassessment of developments over the past few months,” the SFV statement said.
He added: “From FIFA’s point of view, various incidents raise fundamental questions regarding the leadership, governance, transparency and decision-making processes within FIFA.”
