By David Owen
August 24 – FIFA’s personnel expenses soared last year, reflecting an increased headcount at world football’s governing body.
Total personnel expenses at the Zurich-based organisation climbed around 20 per cent to over $63 million (£40.8 million), as the average number of employees rose from 315 to 361.
According to the body’s financial report, a number of so-called “key management personnel” - including Joseph Blatter, President, and Jérôme Valcke, Secretary General - received $20.9 million (£13.5 million) of “short-term employee benefits” in 2009.
This too represented a sharp increase from the 2008 level of $18.5 million (£11.9 million).
Contacted by insideworldfootball, however, FIFA said that the number of directors had changed since 2008 due to “internal reorganisation”.
The near 13 per cent increase could not, therefore be “allocated to individuals”.
FIFA also said that the “main part” of key management personnel-related costs was included in personnel expenses.
The figures show that the average FIFA employee earns an annual salary of in excess of $137,000 (£88,749).
Once social benefit costs and other employee benefits are taken into account, the annual cost per employee to FIFA climbs to nearly $175,000 (£113,365).
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