Fifa’s Gianni Infantino hits rocky
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The World Cup in Russia has sailed into view with a new Fifa captain at the helm, two and a half years since Sepp Blatter’s presidency crashed on the rocks of corruption and ethics breaches. Gianni Jeurys Familia Womens Jersey Infantino seemed a callow, unlikely president when he was elevated to succeed the banned Blatter in February 2016 as, his tie slightly askew, he tapped his heart in Authentic Denis Potvin Jersey wonderment at winning the vote of the Fifa congress. [Image: nike_cardinals_2031.jpg]Yet the better clue to how Infantino would operate has turned out not to be that moment of youthful elation but the ferocious ambition with which he had seized his opportunity. He had seemed a steady, bureaucratic type in his former blazer as the Uefa general secretary but he has surprised many with a bullish and ruthless approach to the Fifa presidency, when stewardship of the world’s most popular sport calls for diplomacy, especially now. [Image: nike_49ers_3047.jpg]On Wednesday in Moscow Infantino will preside over his own second congress, whose most significant agenda item is another World Cup hosting vote – between the joint USA, Canada and Mexico bid, and Morocco’s pitch to be the destination for the 2026 tournament. That vote, as well as Vladimir Putin’s preening at the World Cup kicking off in his country, and blockade by the regional neighbours of the 2022 host country, Qatar, illustrate the world’s dramatically increased volatility since the last, farcical vote eight years ago. Back then in a cold Zurich, the storms ahead were precipitated mostly by Fifa’s internal rottenness; 17 of the executive committee’s then 24 members have since admitted or been accused of serious corruption or ethics rule breaches. Blatter has acknowledged since that he supported the choices of Russia to host this World Cup, then the USA for 2022; his contribution, he has said, to world peace, and his hope that Fifa – seriously – would be given a Nobel peace prize. “I had already spoken about it with high level politicians: could Jimmy Smith Womens Jersey we have Russia and http://www.officialbuffalosabres.com/Adidas-Matt-Moulson-Jersey USA in the World Cup?” Blatter told me, in my interview with him for my book about the corruption scandals, The Fall of the House of Fifa. “It would be good for these two countries, these powerhouses; they don’t like each other – then with football they can make a handshake for peace.” He was furious when a majority voted for Qatar for 2022 and believed, rightly, it would bring Fifa a torrid reaction. However cheesily simplistic and idealised his view was then, now it looks fantastical, given the toxicity of Putin’s Russia, Donald Trump’s “America First” bombast and the FBI investigation into his links with Russia, the Brexit vote and advances of an anti-immigrant right across Europe, and the blockade of Qatar by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The bidding process for the 2026 hosts has been beset more by accusations of political interference than corruption, particularly after Trump knocked out a tweet seen by many as characteristic bullying. “It would be a shame if countries that we always support were to lobby against the US bid,” he tweeted in April. “Why should we be supporting these countries http://www.authenticmlbrangersstore.com/Authentic-Delino-Deshields-Jersey when they don’t support us (including at the United Nations)?” Fifa responded by emphasising its guidelines against “undue influence” by http://www.panthersfootballofficialonlinestore.com/Donte-Jackson-Jersey governments, only for Trump to repeat his threats the following week, urging “African countries and countries throughout the world” to support the US bid, warning : “We will Davon House Womens Jersey be watching very closely.” cheap jerseys free shipping wholesale nfl jerseys wholesale nfl jerseys cheap jerseys wholesale jerseyswholesale nfl jerseys cheap jerseys
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