World Cup to be sold off by FIFA (plus UEFA boycott)

[Houghton Bee]

One of his senior advisors has quit, hopefully this is the beginning of the end for Infantino.

He'll need to be forced out, the greedy bitch won't walk away with nothing.

 

[bees1984]

From Sky sports article - 'FIFA president Gianni Infantino has publicly backed the plan, with an investor group led by Thrive Eternal, founded by Joshua Kushner - the brother of United States President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner - waiting in the wings to secure a minority stake in the new venture.'

Of course there is some sort of link to Donald Trump. Him and Infantino are best mates!

 

[lanzabee]

From Sky sports article - 'FIFA president Gianni Infantino has publicly backed the plan, with an investor group led by Thrive Eternal, founded by Joshua Kushner - the brother of United States President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner - waiting in the wings to secure a minority stake in the new venture.'

Of course there is some sort of link to Donald Trump. Him and Infantino are best mates!

Dearly hope Uefa can keep the pigs away from the trough. Ceferin is no angel either and has his own agenda in terms of protecting the CL from Fifa's CWC. But Infantino is an utterly disgusting individual - you only have to look at the company he chooses to keep.

 

[jlove]

With Asia joining in the opposition, it’s got to be dead in the water for the grifters’ project and for the man himself.

 

[hanworthbee]

It'll be dead in the water by Monday but in it's place will be a 64 team WC imo

 

[Banana]

The knives are now out from his own team. Goodbye domehead.

"Since I joined FIFA a little less than two years ago, I've gone from one surprise to the next. I've seen enough to make a great series.

"But what has been announced in recent days and what has been happening behind the scenes in recent months defies belief and imagination.

"To put it very clearly and directly: the project that has sparked so much controversy and debate is not a FIFA project. It is even less a project of FIFA's administration. It is the project of one person.

"The FIFA vice-presidents, the members of the FIFA Council, the confederations, the federations, the players, the leagues, the clubs, and the fans were not the only ones who were ignored. FIFA's own administration was also deceived.

This lie by omission over many months and this unilateral exercise of power are not trivial. They are indicative of a lack of trust, a lack of transparency, a lack of discernment, a lack of good governance. And a serious lack of respect.

"Not only must this project not go ahead - for obvious reasons that need not even be listed here - but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions.

Regarding this project and what comes next, everyone must take responsibility, because it is becoming increasingly difficult for FIFA's administration to work under these conditions and fulfil its mission.

"Our mission - the mission of the hundreds of passionate, dedicated and exemplary FIFA employees - is to serve football. Not to serve the personal interests of a person who, unfortunately, believes he embodies FIFA when he is supposed to be at its service.

"A president must bring people together, unite them and inspire them. Today, we are experiencing the opposite. I have no authority to speak on behalf of my colleagues, and perhaps I am mistaken. But my feeling is that we all want to be proud to work for FIFA, and today, unfortunately, it seems that is no longer the case for many of us. That saddens me.

"My colleagues - some of whom have dedicated their lives to football - deserve better than contempt and intimidation.

"The ball is now in the court of those who have the power to change things.

"I know I have a duty of loyalty to my employer. But I also, and above all, have a duty of loyalty to certain values and to the upbringing I have received, and a duty to support my colleagues. And if that means I lose my job, then so be it.

"I will understand and respect that decision. At least I'll sleep well tonight."

 

[JCMcBee]

...he probably will sleep well tonight..most psychopaths do .......his successor will be one too....and so it goes on.... they're not as clever as they think...we know who and what you are....#footballisthepeoplesgame#alwayswillbe.

 

[Banana]

View: https://x.com/theMadridZone/status/2083311754860183918?s=20

 

[josht]

I'm surprised JP Morgan got involved. I'm quite sure they were they proposed bankers for the failed Super League a few years back.

For an astute bank that leans towards the friendlier markets PR, compared to several of its peers, it's quite amazing they've fluffed it again with this.

 

[Banana]

Shock, horror

 

[BURFORD BEE]

All that remains is for the worthless piece of to sod off to the US and find an appropriate position in the similarly corrupt administration and allow FIFA to be run in the interests of the game and not by some profiteering ****
Some chance unfortunately!

 

[JANORAK]

All that remains is for the worthless piece of to sod off to the US and find an appropriate position in the similarly corrupt administration and allow FIFA to be run in the interests of the game and not by some profiteering ****
Some chance unfortunately!

I think he already lives in that hotbed of football, Dubai. Maybe he wanted to fortify it?

 

[Oldboy TW8 0AW]

With Infantino's 'u' turn it is also time for him to go.
The next FIFA presidential elections are scheduled for the 18th March 2027, in Morocco.
211 Associations and Confederations need to make the right decision then.
However, Infantino may resign prior to the above date, causing an earlier election.
Whatever, these last few months has dragged the beautiful game down.

 

[filmyfan]

The i says Motagliani 'preparing' to run - bit like clubs 'monitoring'

Canadian football chief prepares to run against Infantino in Fifa election

Concacaf president Victor Montagliani is set to challenge Infantino, while The i Paper has also been told PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi has ‘no intention’ to follow suit

inews.co.uk

 

[kaebess]

I remember a Colombian World Cup footballer was murdered just for scoring an own goal.

Seems an unlucky incident compared to what Infantino has deliberately planned.

He was shagging the national managers wife and got caught. Been in the bar where he was shot.

 

[BlueJayBee]

With Infantino's 'u' turn it is also time for him to go.
The next FIFA presidential elections are scheduled for the 18th March 2027, in Morocco.
211 Associations and Confederations need to make the right decision then.
However, Infantino may resign prior to the above date, causing an earlier election.
Whatever, these last few months has dragged the beautiful game down.

Those who opposed him now need to organise a witch hunt against him and "go for the kill".

 

[hanworthbee]

He was shagging the national managers wife and got caught. Been in the bar where he was shot.

Are you sure about this as I don't think this is true at all !

 

[SC]

Are you sure about this as I don't think this is true at all !

It was Escobar, and he was executed for scoring an own goal whicn resulted in Colombia exiting the world cup

 

[WarrenBee]

Hopefully he'll fall on his own sword, I don't see how he can survive this, even the big orange baby hasn't backed him.

 

[Garybaldbee]

The i says Motagliani 'preparing' to run - bit like clubs 'monitoring'

Canadian football chief prepares to run against Infantino in Fifa election

Concacaf president Victor Montagliani is set to challenge Infantino, while The i Paper has also been told PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi has ‘no intention’ to follow suit

inews.co.uk

Trouble is, I've got little faith in FIFA appointing anybody with an ounce of integrity or desire to properly steward the interests of the game. Infantino himself was meant to be the saviour after Blatter's corruption but turned out to be even worse. Anybody like Montagliani who has close connections with Infantino will come with more red flags than the annual Durham miners Gala.

 

[kaebess]

Are you sure about this as I don't think this is true at all !

Very sure and very true.
Came from a retired Colombian governmental official that was serving in the government at the time.

 

[Untouchable]

He’s done.


View: https://x.com/martynziegler/status/2083486650605162958?s=46&t=SQP7mje7Pimu8X-ugPnQnQ

 

[The Pipe]

I guess cynicism increases with age, however if Infantino were to leave/ stand down/ not get voted in I have very little confidence that the next incumbent won’t start seeing the £ signs and be as “ corrupt” as his predecessors.

We don’t need a change at the helm we need FIFA to be disbanded and a new governing body created which does not include any of the existing committee members as their hand have hardly been clean over the past decade !!!

 

[hanworthbee]

It was Escobar, and he was executed for scoring an own goal whicn resulted in Colombia exiting the world cup

Yes I've never heard anything to the contrary as to the reasons he was murdered except for the OG

 

[Vid]

I blame Ebenezer Cobb Morley for not sorting it out at the start.

 

[beeeehive]

What a way to ruin your whole career, part of me thinks what he’s tried to do must break some sort of law. Trying a personal money grab because of your position in a federation

 

[Gawain]

I guess cynicism increases with age, however if Infantino were to leave/ stand down/ not get voted in I have very little confidence that the next incumbent won’t start seeing the £ signs and be as “ corrupt” as his predecessors.

We don’t need a change at the helm we need FIFA to be disbanded and a new governing body created which does not include any of the existing committee members as their hand have hardly been clean over the past decade !!!

Agree with both those points, but re the former, the next guy will doubtless be one of the "old guard", so it will need new firm rules and procedures for voting and consultation etc, to stop the next President going on "solo runs" like Infantino did. And there must be a chance of that, since Infantino has pissed off so many of the bigwigs for the way he routinely ignored them.

Re the second point, I'd "Love it, really love it" Kevin Keegan style. But it ain't gonna happen, sadly.

 

[Sianist]

Also, you can probably be very sure that UEFA is not allowed by it's member-states to take the eye off the ball on it, so there's likely to be more stringent looking-over-the-shoulder oversight, specially now that UEFA have proved to themselves that they have significantly more power than previously acknowledged, due to assorted cohorts in other federations that would be inclined to support them in conflicts on transparency and corruption

 

[SpiderBee]

What a way to ruin your whole career, part of me thinks what he’s tried to do must break some sort of law. Trying a personal money grab because of your position in a federation

He wont care. Minted.

 

[Gawain]

He wont care. Minted.

The money might be some consolation, but with egomaniacs like him, it is power which they really crave, with the money being more a reflection of how great they are, rather than the "thing" itself.

If he does go, and then had to live the rest of his life away from the limelight, and without the private jet and luxury hotel suites etc, he'd hate it.

While he's still only 56 - he could have another 30 or 40 years left in him.

 

[Gawain]

If this really should mean the end for Infantino, then it will have been a whirlwind fall from grace.

For this article dates from as recently as Friday 17th July:

Over 200 countries endorse Infantino for a fourth re-election despite the Balogun scandal​

According to the Guardian, [Infantino] has received formal backing from more than 200 of the organisation's 211 member associations.
Despite criticism over the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun's red card overturn at the 2026 World Cup, Infantino looks set to secure a fourth term.
The FIFA chief is expected to cruise to victory at the governing body's congress in March, with only a handful of national associations yet to submit letters of endorsement.
Germany are one of the most notable holdouts, although the overwhelming majority of European federations have already pledged their support alongside nations from every other confederation.
Infantino is currently the only declared candidate ahead of the November 18 nomination deadline, and it would take an extraordinary political shift to prevent him from extending his tenure.
Over 200 countries endorse Infantino for a fourth re-election despite the Balogun scandal

I'm pretty certain that The FA were amongst the backers, rather than the holdouts, primarily because they didn't want to do anything which might harm their chances of staging the 2038 or 2042 World Cup Finals.

 

[Garybaldbee]

If this really should mean the end for Infantino, then it will have been a whirlwind fall from grace.

I'm pretty certain that The FA were amongst the backers, rather than the holdouts, primarily because they didn't want to do anything which might harm their chances of staging the 2038 or 2042 World Cup Finals.

I think more relevant for the FA is our bid for the 2035 Women's World Cup Finals.

 

[Gawain]

I think more relevant for the FA is our bid for the 2035 Women's World Cup Finals.

That's already in the bag, since FIFA announced in April that the (UK) bid was the only valid one submitted:
FIFA Women's World Cup 2035™: UK-wide bid

 

[Garybaldbee]

That's already in the bag, since FIFA announced in April that the (UK) bid was the only valid one submitted:
FIFA Women's World Cup 2035™: UK-wide bid

But not yet formally confirmed.

 

[GuyBee]

The problem is that any potenital candidate will need the votes from Asia and Africa. Infantino gave them all $2m a year I believe.

If you are a small federation, from a poor country, like say Mali, that is a lot of money. So any new candidate is going to have to match that to start with

Its amazing, and to their credit, that the smaller Uefa, AFC, CONCAF member federations are prepared to walk away from the promised $40m

 

[Bee1895]

If this really should mean the end for Infantino, then it will have been a whirlwind fall from grace.

For this article dates from as recently as Friday 17th July:

Over 200 countries endorse Infantino for a fourth re-election despite the Balogun scandal​

According to the Guardian, [Infantino] has received formal backing from more than 200 of the organisation's 211 member associations.
Despite criticism over the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun's red card overturn at the 2026 World Cup, Infantino looks set to secure a fourth term.
The FIFA chief is expected to cruise to victory at the governing body's congress in March, with only a handful of national associations yet to submit letters of endorsement.
Germany are one of the most notable holdouts, although the overwhelming majority of European federations have already pledged their support alongside nations from every other confederation.
Infantino is currently the only declared candidate ahead of the November 18 nomination deadline, and it would take an extraordinary political shift to prevent him from extending his tenure.
Over 200 countries endorse Infantino for a fourth re-election despite the Balogun scandal

I'm pretty certain that The FA were amongst the backers, rather than the holdouts, primarily because they didn't want to do anything which might harm their chances of staging the 2038 or 2042 World Cup Finals.

But there also was no other contender, but now PSG's boss will be installed as an alternative candidate.

 

[GuyBee]

If this really should mean the end for Infantino, then it will have been a whirlwind fall from grace.


I'm pretty certain that The FA were amongst the backers, rather than the holdouts, primarily because they didn't want to do anything which might harm their chances of staging the 2038 or 2042 World Cup Finals.

Under the current rules, the only place the 2038 finals can be is is in CONCACAF

There has to be a space of 2 WC before it You can have a WC in the same federation.

2030 wipes out UEFA, South America, Africa until 2042

Its why 2034 is in Saudi

 

[jlove]

But there also was no other contender, but now PSG's boss will be installed as an alternative candidate.

I very much doubt that…

 

[Bee1895]

Who are candidates to take on Infantino for FIFA presidency? All to know

Who is tipped to replace Gianni Infantino after the World Cup investment plan crisis?

www.aljazeera.com

 

[Baubaul]

I think “poor” ol’ Gianni had an overwhelming growth of false confidence after kissing the orange melt’s arse and he flew to close to the sun, the greedy tw*t slap head

 

[nocoat]

I think “poor” ol’ Gianni had an overwhelming growth of false confidence after kissing the orange melt’s arse and he flew to close to the sun, the greedy tw*t slap head

Nicely put

 

[filmyfan]

Welsh FA have withdrawn support and English FA set to follow suit

 

[tinman]

He has to go. The Americanization of the WC has got to stop. It’s a game of 45 minutes x2 plus genuine add ons in each half. No hydration breaks and no performances at HT. If he has his way the pitch will be covered in adverts, the players wear cricket style helmets and shoulder pads. There will be no drawn games in the WC group stages with games going straight to penalties.

 

[jlove]

Americanization

As should the Americanisation of the English language…

 

[LongLostBee]

As should the Americanisation of the English language…

I always think the choices in a language selection drop-down should be:
- English
and
- Bad English (to cater for the Americans)

 

[jlove]

I always think the choices in a language selection drop-down should be:
- English
and
- Bad English (to cater for the Americans)

Off Topic: All my devices have multiple selections for English, so I select English (UK) as the default… Although English (Japan) can be fun!

 

[Banana]

Welsh FA have withdrawn support and English FA set to follow suit

Now it’s getting serious

 

[Downbeat Bee]

Welsh FA have withdrawn support and English FA set to follow suit

Why were they supporting him until now?
Surely Trump’s ‘Peace Prize’ should have got a few alarm bells ringing.

 

[stocc]

I always think the choices in a language selection drop-down should be:
- English
and
- Bad English (to cater for the Americans)

Off topic, but an alternative I saw was English(Traditional), or English(Simplified)...

 

[Gawain]

I'm surprised JP Morgan got involved. I'm quite sure they were they proposed bankers for the failed Super League a few years back.

For an astute bank that leans towards the friendlier markets PR, compared to several of its peers, it's quite amazing they've fluffed it again with this.

Yep, they were behind the ESL too, but had to issue a (for them) humiliating apology, along the lines of "We're sorry we got it wrong, didn't mean to etc"

So that having been burned over "sawker" before, I was surprised they got involved in this project as well. With my tinfoil conspiracy hat on, I'm guessing it might be something like this?

When Trump was first elected, predictably enough all the finance guys wanted to be his best friend etc, incl JP Morgan. But somehow or other, they eventually fell out, such that in January this year, Trump launched a $5bn lawsuit against JPM and their Chair/CEO, Jamie Dimon:
How Trump’s relations with America’s biggest banking boss hit rock bottom

So with Trump's family all over Infantino's scheme, if JPM could make sure the juiciest bits went to them, maybe this was seen as a way for them to ingratiate themselves with Trump again?