Gianni Infantino has been re-elected as FIFA President at the 73rd Congress. At his big coronation show, he celebrates himself and also sends a tip towards the DFB. Also, he makes an announcement that could give him eternity status.
Gianni Infantino attempted a gesture of emotion. After the delegates at the FIFA Congress in Kigali once again applauded him as the most powerful man in world football, he slapped his heart with his right hand. The Swiss sent a sign of love to all the people who had put their trust in him again. At least until 2027, Infantino is now responsible for the further development of the most popular sport on the planet. But like almost everything in Infantino’s world, this gesture did not appear spontaneously out of emotion, but constructed. Well, he knew anyway that he will remain the powerful one.
And if it’s up to him, it’s allowed to go on like this forever. In a quirky show that was mostly self-adulation, the 52-year-old happily confessed: “If an entrepreneur announced that dividends would be increased sevenfold, if you kept him forever, then he would leave It’s not just a four-year mandate.” Means: Infantino not only admires himself for his work, but also sees no better one far and wide. And because he has already found a way of not officially recognizing his first term as Sepp Blatter’s successor, no one will be surprised if the Swiss finds a way to continue in 2031, at the end of his third and final term. And as long as the money is flowing, he need not fear for love.
Maybe “a few billion” more?
The figures presented by the Swiss in the capital of Rwanda are indeed impressive. The ambitious tournament plans also help: Most recently, the Club World Cup was expanded to a competition with 32 teams every four years from 2025. In addition, there will be an annual mini-tournament for the winners of the major competitions in the confederations. The world association will earn more than eleven billion US dollars by 2026, and the new Club World Cup could add “a few billion more”, enthused Infantino and excitedly called out to the delegates: “FIFA’s money is your money .” FIFA’s payments to the associations were increased from 1 billion to 1.7 billion during his first official term in office, and they are expected to increase to 2.3 billion euros by the next World Cup. Good arguments, which let the love of many delegates know no bounds.
Infantino was on the podium for 36 minutes before his re-election. And raved. Especially by yourself. Among other things, for hosting the controversial tournament in Qatar. “I promised you the best World Cup in history – and I delivered,” he said. “Everything I do as President, I do for all of you.” He later promised after being confirmed in office that he would “continue to serve FIFA and football around the world”. And once caught in the intoxication of pathos, he sent a few slightly poisoned love greetings into the auditorium. “I want to thank everyone. Those who love me – and also those who don’t like me that much. These are a few. I like them all – especially today,” said Infantino, smiling.
“I don’t steal, I don’t profit”
A little later he caught his declaration of love again. At a bizarre media round after the congress, he launched into a mighty lament and felt badly misunderstood. “I don’t understand why some of you are so mean,” he said during a 15-minute monologue about criticism of his leadership. “I work hard. I don’t steal, I don’t profit.” Infantino referred to a comparison to Robin Hood that had been brought to him. “We don’t steal from the rich to give to the poor. We also give to the rich, but we also give to the poor so they can grow.”
According to him, FIFA “isn’t about money, it’s about football. Of course we need the money to develop football around the world”. That’s why he doesn’t understand “the constant attacks on FIFA and its president”: “You don’t have to like me, you don’t have to love me. You can criticize me, but please stick to the facts.” The fact that FIFA is not about money seems a bit odd, after all, Infantino is not at a loss to cuddle with ruthless autocrats. This applies, for example, to the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is said to have been involved in the plot to murder the journalist Khashoggi – and at the same time would like to host the 2030 World Cup. Infantino meanwhile emphasized that the majority have the feeling that he is doing a good job – also in Europe. If someone were to say that they only get support from poor countries, it would be “racially and factually wrong”.
“We love you, President”
Addressees of this dislike message were, among others, Norway and Germany. Both associations had refused to follow the boss, as had Sweden. But in the swanky show for the Swiss, the minimal opposition was completely lost. Because Infantino was not confirmed in office by a count, but by acclamation with applause, it was not at all obvious that the dissatisfied people were also in the hall. The FIFA boss, who was re-elected with an overwhelming majority, punished the few critical sitters around DFB boss Bernd Neuendorf with his first message. And then General Secretary Fatma Samoura also (verbally) unpacked the right hook and struck down any criticism and doubts about Infantino with a quirky and almost obedient heckling. “We love you, President,” she whispered to him after his performance – the Swiss smiled enthusiastically.
And in a world where Infantino avoids politics like the devil avoids holy water, he presented himself as a peacemaker. “Football is there to bring our dear world together,” he emphasized while observing the anti-war delegations from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. “Football is joy, happiness, passion, love and peace.” And human rights? Well, the FIFA boss is still not sure-footed in this field. But instead of providing answers on the subject of human rights in Qatar, the world association preferred to provide glossy pictures of the tournament. At the request of Norway, the world association then took a stand and announced an investigation into possible human rights violations.
The next best World Cup of all time is coming
The boss still didn’t want to spoil the tournament in the desert because of the background noise. He spoke again of the “best World Cup of all time”, which will be replaced in 2026 in the USA, Canada and Mexico by the next “greatest World Cup of all time”. The fact that 48 national associations are taking part for the first time is one of Infantino’s long-term election promises.
“We are not the Red Cross or Greenpeace,” said Infantino, praising the two organizations. “But we also have a responsibility to help with global challenges.” He did not go into the affairs and inconsistencies of his previous creative period, which were also critically followed in Germany. In Switzerland, two special public prosecutors are investigating an opaque judicial affair against Infantino, who rejects all allegations. On the contrary, the 52-year-old referred to his recent invitation to the G20 summit. “We’re proud of it,” said Infantino. “These people wouldn’t sit down with a FIFA they don’t trust.” Institutions and “not just sponsors and television stations” have gained confidence in FIFA.
In fact, Infantino still had a plan ready, which for once is undisputed. He set the goal of paying the same premiums for the 2027 women’s World Cup as for the men’s 2026 World Cup. That was the “most difficult” step on the way to so-called “equal pay”, i.e. the same wages for women and men in professional football. “The rights holders and sponsors have to do more,” Infantino demanded, referring to the sometimes massively lower offers from these partners for women’s football. At this year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the sum of 30 million US dollars from 2019 will increase significantly, he said. According to the world association, 110 million US dollars in bonuses are to be paid out – but this is still significantly less than at the 2022 men’s World Cup in Qatar, when 440 million US dollars were paid to the 32 teams.