Class acts: MBS, Infantino, and Vlad Putin go out on a limb

The great Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano said it best. “Every soccer player is a billboard in movement, but FIFA will not allow players to wear signs of solidarity. Such an affront is expressively prohibited.” (Soccer in Sun and Shadow, page 216)

FIFA has no illusions. They are not here because they love the beautiful game. Take it from Joao Havelange, as he ascended to becoming FIFA president. He announced, ” I have come here to sell a product named soccer. ” This is all about power and money and it doesn’t matter where it comes from. (Soccer in Sun and Shadow, page 145). Havelange begat Sepp Blatter, who expanded FIFA’s money spigot to human rights averse autocracies and kleptocracies in exchange for hosting World Cups. Russia with their genocidal invasion of Ukraine had already taken over Crimea in 2014 and Qatar’s horrific abuse of migrant workers and utter contempt for human rights was well known and documented. No worries.

Gianni Infantino does not represent any FIFA reform. He might have had a jaw dropping “Oh, woe is me” exercise in cynicism but he loves Qatar picking up the tab as they massage the human rights issues. The 2026 World Cup will expand to a mind boggling 48 countries. FIFA is not bestowing the benevolence of the beautiful game to those less fortunate, the expansion is widely seen as Infantino’s power grab (in Spanish) and yes, to keep those money counters ringing with even more cash.