“Why are you so mean?”

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It’s actually a happy day for Gianni Infantino (52). In Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, de Valaisan was confirmed to a standing ovation in his position as president for another four years by FIFA’s general assembly of 207 member associations.

All transactions run smoothly. There was not even a question about the small concrete answer from the chairman of the subcommittee on human rights established in December 2022, Michael Llamas, via video message to the application of the Norwegian association.

The motion, which was also supported by the SFV, calls on FIFA to ensure that the workers who built Qatar’s stadiums and infrastructure, some of whom have been damaged, are properly paid and compensated. In addition, FIFA should guarantee the safety of this remedy in the future.

incomprehension of criticism

At the subsequent press conference, however, the Wallisers launched a full-scale attack. Before the world press can ask their questions, Infantino delivers a ten-minute monologue. “A year ago I felt I had to defend the World Cup in Qatar, now I feel I have to defend FIFA.”

He wonders why some are so mean to him and FIFA, Infantino said. “We don’t steal, we don’t make a profit.” Every dollar is audited and on the books. “The money is no longer seeping away.” He himself does not speak much to the media. “But that’s how I am.” The FIFA president also rejected an interview request from Blick in the run-up to the congress, supposedly due to lack of time.

The finances are correct

“You have to leave football to the protagonists,” says Infantino. But the congress is his stage, on which he feels comfortable and on which no critical questions are asked. He answers such questions later, but before they are asked. “Fifa is not about the money, it’s about football,” said the old and new president. “We need the money to develop football.”

It is a distorted picture, especially since the good financial figures are the main argument for Infantino’s sovereign re-election. He brings it up prominently when he sums up everything that has happened in Fifa under his leadership in his re-election speech, in which he switches between four languages.

Record revenues of nearly $7.6 billion over the past four years, seven times disbursements to individual associations, budgeted revenues of eleven billion in the next cycle. “If a company CEO were to present these numbers, you would want to keep them forever.” It’s one of Infantino’s brief flashes of self-importance and distorted perception that day.

Promotion of women’s football

He calls the criticism of FIFA, which a few weeks ago considered “Visit Saudi” as a sponsor of the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, a “storm in a teacup”. But it is clear that he does not understand this. “For FIFA, all countries are equal.” The fact that the Australian economy trades with Saudi Arabia is not a problem if the country sponsors FIFA, but it is. Infantino speaks of “meaning double standards”.

The development of women’s football is close to the heart of the father of four daughters. Under Infantino’s leadership, World Cup bonuses have increased tenfold and the same bonuses will be paid at the 2027 World Cup as at the 2026 Men’s World Cup. However, Infantino also holds the sponsors and television stations responsible. “It cannot be the case that a TV channel offers 100 million for the rights to the World Cup for men, but does not even want to pay a million for the World Cup for women. Especially if this institution is publicly funded.”

Source : Blick