FIFA reported losses of $369million for 2016 and had budgeted to for a greater loss this year.
The latest financial report issued by world football s governing body projects a deficit of $489m in 2017, although it expects a bumper year in 2018, with the television deals for the World Cup in Russia forecast to help the FIFA meet its target for the 2015-18 period of a $100m profit.
Legal costs rose, related to the scandal that engulfed the organisation in May 2015, when US and Swiss authorities arrested top football officials at a luxury Zurich hotel as part of an investigation into allegations of criminal misconduct, bribery and corruption. The officials were gathered for FIFA s annual congress.
A raft of governance reforms have followed and FIFA has worked to co-…