Extortionate tickets and matches moved at Trump’s whim: are you ready for the ‘greatest World Cup ever’? | Marina Hyde
In a recent commentary, Marina Hyde critiques the troubling intersection of politics and football, particularly spotlighting the collaboration between U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Despite Infantino’s previous assertions that politics should remain separate from football, his presence in the Oval Office during Trump’s remarks demonstrates a stark contradiction. The president suggested that games for the upcoming World Cup could be relocated from host cities if he perceives security issues or non-compliance, a thinly veiled reference that seems to target cities governed by Democrats. This scenario highlights the uncomfortable reality that while FIFA has previously embraced tournaments in autocratic regimes, it appears to draw the line at American cities with Democratic leadership.
Hyde reflects on the disheartening trajectory of FIFA under Infantino’s leadership, questioning how the organization could have ended up with a president perceived as even more problematic than his predecessor, Sepp Blatter. The author recalls the explosive corruption scandal that led to Blatter’s ousting in 2015, which had seemed like a low point for the organization. However, Infantino’s actions and associations, particularly his willingness to engage with controversial political figures, have led to a renewed sense of disillusionment among football fans and observers alike. The piece serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities and ethical dilemmas facing global sports governance, where the lines between politics and sport are increasingly blurred, leaving fans questioning the integrity of their beloved game.
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
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