Extortionate tickets and matches moved at Trump’s whim: are you ready for the ‘greatest World Cup ever’? | Marina Hyde
In a striking commentary on the intersection of politics and sports, Marina Hyde highlights the troubling alliance between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump, particularly in light of the upcoming World Cup. Infantino, who previously claimed that “politics should stay out of football,” appears to have compromised this principle by aligning himself with Trump’s controversial stance on host cities for the tournament. During a recent meeting at the Oval Office, Trump suggested that games could be relocated if he perceives issues with security or compliance, a statement that many interpret as a veiled threat directed at cities governed by Democrats. This alarming development raises questions about the integrity of FIFA and the motivations behind its leadership, especially given Infantino’s willingness to engage with autocratic regimes while imposing conditions on democratic cities.
Hyde reflects on the disheartening trajectory of FIFA under Infantino’s leadership, comparing it unfavorably to the era of his predecessor, Sepp Blatter. The article suggests that Infantino’s tenure has not only failed to restore FIFA’s reputation but has arguably exacerbated its image as a corrupt and politically entangled organization. By allowing tournaments to take place in countries with questionable human rights records, while simultaneously threatening to penalize U.S. cities for political reasons, Infantino’s actions reveal a troubling hypocrisy. The piece serves as a poignant reminder of how deeply intertwined politics and sports can be, particularly in the realm of international events like the World Cup, and questions whether the sport can ever truly be free from political influence.
As the World Cup approaches, the implications of this political maneuvering are significant, not only for the tournament’s integrity but also for the broader relationship between sports governance and political authority. Hyde’s critique underscores the urgent need for transparency and accountability within FIFA, as well as a reevaluation of the ethical standards expected from those at the helm of world sports. The article ultimately challenges readers to consider the future of football amidst a landscape increasingly dominated by political agendas and the potential ramifications for the sport’s global community.
You may have thought Qatar and Russia were tournament lows. You didn’t account for the US president and his Fifa soulmate, Gianni Infantino
“It’s very clear,” claimed haunted Fifa cue-ball Gianni Infantino
not so long ago
, “that politics should stay out of football and football should stay out of politics.” But is it clear? Is it really? On Monday, the worst man in world sport was – yet again – to be
found in the Oval Office
, this time nodding along to Trump’s declaration that games could be moved from host cities for next summer’s World Cup if the US president deems there’s “a problem” with security or that the cities are non-compliant in some other way. In practice, that seems to mean if they’re run by a Democrat/“communist”. Amazing that the Fifa president will gladly allow his tournaments to be held in any old violent autocracy but, for the purposes of the White House cameras at least, might need to draw the line at Boston.
Honestly, the very sight of Infantino these days causes decades of writing about Fifa to flash before my eyes. How could it have happened? How could we have ended up with an even bigger horror in charge of world football’s governing body than the various ones who went before? When
Sepp Blatter was thrown
from a moving gravy train in 2015 amid an explosive corruption scandal, it would have felt like a genuine feat of sporting excellence to have beaten his record for craven awfulness.
Marina Hyde is a Guardian columnist
A year in Westminster: John Crace, Marina Hyde and Pippa Crerar
On Tuesday 2 December, join Crace, Hyde and Crerar as they look back at another extraordinary year, with special guests, live at the Barbican in London and livestreamed globally. Book tickets
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