CONCACAF President earns $3m-a-year for working just five hours a week: Do non-playing officials in football deserve such high wages?

Is corporate even bigger than the game? (Image credits – Heute, Licence Details)

Reports have revealed that CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani earns the highest amount of wages in the world for someone who is not involved on the pitch. As per the tax filing made to the Internal Revenue Service, they claim that he earns $3 million for working just five hours a week.

The Canadian international was also paid $2.1 million as compensation along with $893,750 as incentives in retirement compensation. The North American football governing body’s topmost official is also the highest paid by the organisation to date.

The General Secretary of CONCACAF, Philippe Moggio, was paid $1,569,600 as base compensation, and his yearly income was above $2.4 million. However, he works at least 40 hours a week, unlike the president.

Under American law, the organisation is also designated as a non-profit organisation, due to which they are exempted from paying any sort of corporate taxes. Richard Schmalbeck, an official who focuses on taxation, has slammed Montagliani’s working hours as inaccurate.

The filing had been prepared by an international tax consultant from BDO before getting approved by CONCACAF’s chief financial officer. Schmalbeck has hinted at foul play in these filings, with the organising board yet to comment on the matter.

“If it’s really five hours, then he is extremely well paid, but I doubt it is the case,” he said. “I think this is something they just routinely plug in. I have been on boards because I teach non-profit law, and I don’t think I have ever been asked by the organisation’s accounting firm how many hours I have spent,” said Richard Schmalbeck in an interview. (sic)

He further added, "Montagliani didn't sign the return. Someone else signed the return. It was not circulated to the board members for their review. In my experience, it is not the practice of the accountants to ask these questions. They should ask them, but they generally don’t.” (sic)

The Canadian international had been previously investigated for doing shady deals within the board and for sexual abuse, and the new CONCACAF compensation has added yet another tense situation. However, the North American subcontinent has shown gradual improvement in his tenure, securing the FIFA World Cup hosts’ ticket and also expanding the CONCACAF Nations League.