Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham has become the highest-paid boss of any UK sports governing body, earning a staggering £1.32m in the year ending July 2024.
The impressive remuneration package, revealed in the FA's annual accounts published yesterday, represents an increase of more than 55 per cent compared to the previous year.
Bullingham's substantial earnings have eclipsed those of Rugby Football Union chief Bill Sweeney, who controversially received £1.1m in the last financial year.
Bullingham's package included £869,000 in salary, bonus and other benefits, according to the accounts.
Mark Bullingham's pay increase was reviewed by the FA and approved
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A further £450,000 came as part of an executive long-term incentive plan (LTIP) scheme.
The FA's accounts stated that Bullingham's bonus and the LTIP payout had been reviewed and agreed by its remuneration committee.
The LTIP payment was based on his and the FA's performance over a two-year period.
A total of £1m was paid as part of the scheme to senior management, with the vesting outcomes approved by the committee in July 2024 and settled in cash in September 2024.
The FA recorded an impressive turnover of £551.2m for the year, up £69.4m on the previous year.
This financial success resulted in a net profit of £49.7m, with the organisation's cash balance growing to £317.7m by July 2024.
More England games at Wembley than the previous year drove the increase in turnover, with broadcast income up £22.7m.
The FA also benefited from staging the Champions League final and Taylor Swift's Eras tour at the national stadium.
England's success in reaching the finals of men's Euro 2024 and the 2023 Women's World Cup provided a further boost to the coffers.
The financial performance demonstrates the FA's robust commercial strategy under Bullingham's leadership.
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In a statement defending the substantial remuneration, an FA spokesperson said the organisation's turnover was "the equivalent to a FTSE 250 company", requiring competitive packages to "attract and retain high-calibre executives".
The spokesperson added: "Mark has led the business to meet and exceed robust and ambitious performance targets on and off the pitch and deliver our 2020-2024 strategic objectives."
This contrasts sharply with the situation at the RFU, where Sweeney's £1.1m package sparked significant controversy.
Sweeney survived a vote of no confidence at a special general meeting last month amid criticism of perceived governance failures, despite the RFU reporting an operating loss of nearly £40m.
