The prohibition of the one love bracelet. The bizarre “Today I feel handicapped” speech. His acting as a lawyer for Qatar when human and labor rights are questioned in the Gulf state. His applause at the World Cup presentation ceremony as the Emir dresses Lionel Messi in a Qatari garb. His ballyhoo when it comes to the fund intended to compensate the families of the World Cup workers killed in an accident.
Or more recently, when he named a top Brazilian model ambassador for the Women’s World Cup, or the outgoing president of the French Football Federation, who is under investigation by the Paris judiciary for sexual assault against women, was appointed his right-hand man. And above all, “Visit Saudi”, the tourism authority of a country where women’s rights are restricted, will be the main sponsor of the Women’s World Cup.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has an unashamed instinct for blunders. At least, if you look at it from a Western point of view. That is why he is constantly criticized here. Sometimes by members of their own family. But he needn’t worry about that. At most, some presidents of European football associations refuse him the applause in Kigali.
At the same time, many thought Infantino offered enough vulnerability to dethrone him. The mere fact that the Europeans couldn’t agree on a challenger, didn’t even try, shows Europe’s impotence in world football.
What sounded like a protest three months ago during the World Cup sounds like this today: behaving like a bull in a china shop makes little sense in the network of mutual dependencies in the world of civil servants. If not before, the FIFA-critical unions would have to have their teeth pulled in Qatar at the latest. That is why the time when the great football nations of Europe determined the rules of the game is over.
Gianni Infantino has emancipated herself from Europe
No one knows this better than Infantino himself, which is why he doesn’t care how Europe reacts to his actions and behaviour. He has acknowledged that Europe is not important to the FIFA president. But the growth markets in Asia and the Gulf region. In other words, countries that pursue the same goals as himself: more money and more power. Also countries that roll out the red carpet for him, where he does not have to deal with values and rules that block his way elsewhere.
Infantino achieves his goals. FIFA is like a money printing machine, earning $5.2 million a day – and the trend is steeply upward. Because for the cycle from 2023 to 2026, a turnover of 11 billion is expected. From 2019 to 2022, it was 7.6 billion. You can be generous, pay the associations big bonuses and reward the members of the FIFA Council with $250,000 for maybe three meetings a year. Plus a few hundred dollars a day, although FIFA pays for breakfast and lunch or dinner.
Money that doesn’t hurt Infantino – he made $3.6 million last year – and FIFA. But money also helps calm critical voices. Respectively: This money also helps to prevent any resistance, because many associations are very happy with Infantino.
Nevertheless, Alexander Koch, who worked as spokesperson at Fifa HQ under both Sepp Blatter and Infantino, is somewhat surprised that no one wants to take on Infantino. But he also asks, “Let’s put sympathy aside. What exactly bothers people about Gianni Infantino?” That he collaborates with dictators (Vladimir Putin) and unjust states (Saudi Arabia, Qatar). That he blows up the World Cup to 48 teams. That he wants to participate in the World Cup for clubs in the Champions League. Selling the little soul that football still has. To Saudi Arabia, Qatar, China or anywhere where football is mainly used for sports washing.
Ex-Fifa man Koch doesn’t even try to refute the allegations. Instead, he asks, “Has anyone from Europe in the proper committees opposed Infantino’s schemes and machinations? No, because they know they can’t do anything because they’re not in the majority.”
Only the Norwegian federation president Lise Klaveness dares to take on Infantino. For example, a year ago at the Congress in Doha, in her speech she reminded FIFA of its role model role – in issues of human rights and transparency against discrimination. A monstrosity in the eyes of the majority in the room. And now, a year later, Mrs Klaveness herself advises other European football associations to let go of the accelerator.
There is applause for Infantino from Switzerland
The question remains what Switzerland’s attitude towards Infantino is. Association president Dominique Blanc finds positive points in the work of the FIFA president. “Infantino promotes women’s football and encourages development such as VAR and offside technology. Fifa has generally become a bit more transparent. The allocation of the World Cup has become more democratic because all associations have a vote. He wants more finals for the national youth teams. And the unbureaucratic Covid aid of 1.5 million francs came in handy for every affiliated association and also for us. »
Sounds like great satisfaction. But Blanc sees the FIFA president responsible for one thing: the compensation fund, which is intended to provide financial support to the families of migrant workers who have had an accident at the World Cup construction sites in Qatar. “We, that is the Swiss and nine other European football associations, will urge Infantino at the congress to introduce this fund.”
And he adds: “We have clear expectations from FIFA in terms of human rights that it is taken into account in actions and actions. And we wish FIFA and UEFA to cooperate even more constructively in these and other areas.”
Whether the Walliser will listen to the compensation fund shortly before his 53rd birthday is open and depends on the opportunities. Less open, however, is that he wants to start the next Giga litter with the World Cup 2030, which will be awarded next year. On the one hand, there is a triple candidacy with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Greece in the room, a World Cup on three continents, which has never happened before. On the other hand, he has already floated the idea that Israel could host the 2030 World Cup together with neighboring countries.
The political and social tensions make this plan seem extremely adventurous. But perhaps Infantino has only one goal: to win the Nobel Prize, which his predecessor Sepp Blatter was denied. (aargauerzeitung.ch)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
