Gianni Infantino: Defender of the faith?

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing a storm of criticism, with accusations ranging from an "unholy fascination with money" to a "tendency to worship false idols." Some detractors are even calling for his "excommunication" from the sport's global governing body, drawing parallels between FIFA and the Vatican, and Infantino and the Pope.

Infantino has publicly expressed his indignation, defending the recent World Cup as a "spectacle" that celebrated joy and planetary unity. He urged those spreading "hate and false rumors" to reflect, meditate, pray, or watch a football match. However, his critics remain unconvinced, intensifying their scrutiny following reports that FIFA proposed selling a significant portion of future World Cup commercial rights to a private fund.

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I regret that the matches have already ended and I regret that you have missed all that joy and that feeling of unity… To those who dedicate themselves to spreading hate and false rumors, I want to tell them that we, at FIFA, are on the front line offering the best show in the world.

The fund's principal investor is reportedly Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law and a former Middle East peace envoy. This potential deal has ignited widespread controversy, particularly as it involves entities connected to the former U.S. president, who is described as Infantino's "number one idol."

The situation escalated dramatically when Spain, slated to co-host the 2030 World Cup, reportedly threatened to boycott the tournament if Infantino proceeded with the deal. This stance, described as "unprecedented abnegation or fervor in defense of the faith," was reportedly supported by "Protestant countries of the north" and UEFA, the governing body for European football. UEFA issued a stern statement threatening action if Infantino did not abandon the plan to sell the tournament rights to the U.S.-backed entity.

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To those who dedicate their time and energy to hating us, I ask you to take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray or watch a football match.