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Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Gianni Infantino insists 'players LOVE the Club World Cup' as he hits back at critics and claims it shows Americans they can 'get rich and famous from football'
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has launched a staunch defence of the Club World Cup. The tournament, in its first edition in the current 32-team format after being created by Infantino, has faced widespread criticism for a variety of reasons. Global player organisation FIFPro have highlighted the additional demands an expanded tournament will place on players and the negative impact of not having a summer break, with some stars having previously threatened to boycott the competition over workload concerns. Several games have also been played in front of swathes of empty seats, while the extreme weather of the USA at this time of the year and concerns over whether the $1billion (£740m) prize fund will unbalance leagues when teams return home have similarly been noted. Elsewhere, Infantino's claims that the tournament is 'the best against the best' have been brought into question given none of the champions of England, Spain or Italy are involved, while Bayern Munich beat Auckland City 10-0 in their first group game. However, Infantino hit back at these claims and insisted the expanded competition is going well and has the potential to change people's opinions. But it has been widely criticised for a variety of reasons, including low attendances at games 'So, maybe some criticise it a little bit, but it's something new. It's something special,' Infantino said when speaking in Manhattan at the weekend. 'It's a real World Cup with the best teams and the best players. 'It was about time that somebody invented a World Cup for club teams. 'Since 100 years, we know which is the best country in the world, but, until today, we do not really know which is the best team in the world. 'So, we thought it might not be a bad idea to create a World Cup for teams to decide.' Infantino continued: 'Well, I think the players who play, they are loving it. Harry Kane gave an interview saying, "it's a fantastic competition. It's beautiful"'. 'They (players) love it. Those who are not there, of course, they would love to be there.' There have been some early success stories of the Club World Cup, including the atmosphere generated by the likes of Boca Juniors supporters, while Brazilian sides Botafogo and Flamengo caused major upsets against PSG and Chelsea respectively. And Infantino, whose name is engraved on the tournament's trophy, has claimed if the Club World Cup and next summer's World Cup in the US are a success, the trajectory of football in the country may completely change. He added: 'The Club World Cup, and with the World Cup next year, is to show to young Americans that, actually, if you are good and if you are talented, you don't need to go to another sport, because through soccer, there is a path for glory and a path for money, as well. 'You can become famous. You can become rich if you follow a soccer path, which today young Americans don't see. 'Because they see, of course, the NFL or the NBA or baseball or ice hockey, but we will show them here, in their country, the power of soccer.'
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
FIFA president Gianni Infantino hits back at Club World Cup criticism: ‘It's something special'
Gianni Infantino is brushing off early criticisms of the Club World Cup this summer. The FIFA president, speaking on a small stage at Fanatics Fest in Manhattan this weekend, backed the expanded competition, suggesting any hiccups with the tournament are to be expected because of its novelty. 'So, maybe some criticize it a little bit, but it's something new. It's something special,' Infantino said. 'It's a real World Cup with the best teams and the best players.' Advertisement The tournament has been condemned on multiple fronts. Global player organization FIFPro were outspoken in the additional demands an expanded tournament places on professionals, and, over the past week, several games featured large sections of empty seating as ticket sales failed to reach the kind of level Infantino would have hoped for. The FIFA chief accompanied representatives from Serie A side Juventus as they visited President Donald Trump at the White House and was speaking in New York on the day American strikes were launched at Iran, a potential issue for FIFA with Iran having qualified for next summer's World Cup that the U.S. will share with Canada and Mexico. Infantino's remarks were part of a wide-ranging conversation with Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz at the Javitz Center on Saturday. Before the FIFA head spoke at length about his vision for soccer in America, he was asked about the 'Gianni Cup,' as Schultz jokingly called the Club World Cup. 'It was about time that somebody invented a World Cup for club teams,' Infantino said. 'Since 100 years, we know which is the best country in the world, but, until today, we do not really know which is the best team in the world. So, we thought it might not be a bad idea to create a World Cup for teams to decide.' While the Club World Cup has existed before, this summer's format, featuring 32 teams with a $1 billion fund, is a first. The Club World Cup has had its fair share of criticism, stretching back to when players threatened to boycott the competition over concerns with player workload. Many also question whether its prize pool has the potential to unbalance leagues when participating teams return home. Now that the tournament is underway, though, empty seats and extreme weather have raised eyebrows, particularly as it relates to next year's men's World Cup, also being hosted in the United States. Advertisement Infantino insisted the tournament has got off to a successful start. 'Well, I think the players who play, they are loving it,' Infantino told Schultz. He referenced Bayern Munich's Harry Kane, captain of the English men's national team, who spoke fondly of the lively atmosphere he experienced on Friday night in Miami Gardens. That was thanks to Boca Juniors fans who made Hard Rock Stadium feel more like La Bombonera. 'Harry Kane gave an interview saying, 'It's a fantastic competition. It's beautiful',' Infantino said. 'They (players) love it. Those who are not there, of course, they would love to be there.' That match between Bayern and Boca is a positive sign for the potential a Club World Cup offers. Another is Brazilian club Botafogo beating European champions Paris Saint-Germain, one of the first major upsets. While the competition is considered Infantino's prized project, he believes a successful Club World Cup and men's World Cup have the potential to change the trajectory of the sport in America. 'The Club World Cup, and with the World Cup next year, is to show to young Americans that, actually, if you are good and if you are talented, you don't need to go to another sport, because through soccer, there is a path for glory and a path for money, as well,' Infantino said. 'You can become famous. You can become rich if you follow a soccer path, which today young Americans don't see. Because they see, of course, the NFL or the NBA or baseball or ice hockey, but we will show them here, in their country, the power of soccer.'
New York Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
FIFA criticized after dropping anti-racism messages at Club World Cup
FIFA has been criticised by anti-discrimination campaigners after football's world governing body decided against displaying messages challenging racism or discrimination at the Club World Cup in the U.S.. No videos, signage or marketing assets will be shown in venues hosting the tournament, despite promotional materials being developed in the build-up to the tournament to promote FIFA's 'no racism' and 'no discrimination' campaign. They are instead using the slogan from their less specific 'Football Unites the World' campaign. Advertisement The Athletic has been told by sources familiar with the discussions that the European Clubs Association, who represent the interests of clubs who compete in UEFA competitions and who have played a part in commercializing the Club World Cup with FIFA, were not consulted about any activations or campaigns that FIFA would or would not do during the tournament. Sources also said that FIFPro, the global body that represents professional football players, also had not received any information from FIFA on any type of overall anti-discrimination policy changes. FIFA did not respond when asked if the political climate in the U.S. — where President Trump has sought to cut government 'DEI programs' — has played any part in their decision but pointed to FIFA's statues, which say the organisation is neutral on matters of politics. Evan Whitfield, the chair of the Human Rights Soccer Alliance (HRSA), a US grouping of former players, NGOs, lawyers and grassroots soccer organisations established this year, spoke of his 'disappointment' at the lack of FIFA messaging. 'Soccer exists in a space where the values of non-discrimination and inclusion are clear, but they need to be consistently underlined to the world,' Whitfield said. 'A basic message of football unites the world doesn't achieve this clearly enough. And it certainly doesn't reflect the need for messaging amongst those who are coming new to soccer as a sport, or seeing a global soccer tournament for the first time. 'We hope this absence of messaging is not a precursor to the same at the World Cup next year. FIFA is a global organisation that should have consistent values regardless of the country in which it organises competitions. If FIFA can have strong messaging in Russia, Qatar, New Zealand, and Australia, then the same should apply in the United States. This is a soccer issue, regardless of the administration in power in the host country.' Advertisement Piara Powar of Fare added that the messages not being used was 'more than a shame' and added that his network had not been informed of the decision. 'It is disappointing that it appears there will be no anti-discrimination messaging throughout the Club World Cup,' Powar told The Athletic. 'In the past such messaging has been well received by supporters, players and civil society. It has allowed for an alignment of values from football to society. 'We know the work that has gone on behind the scenes with training of security, referees and players, and there is a system in place to be implemented in the event of issues of discrimination inside stadiums.' Powar added: 'We know that the US government is volatile and the need for pragmatism is a factor, but the iteration of consistent and progressive values by FIFA is so important.' Nick McGeehan of FairSquare, an advocacy group focused on human rights, points out that FIFA 'has set up a Social Responsibility and Education division within the organisation to address the issue' and therefore should be committed to its campaigns. 'This looks like FIFA again throwing its weight behind the MAGA (Make America Great Again, the political slogan most recently popularised by Donald Trump) project and ditching its principles in an effort to keep President Trump onside,' McGeehan said. At recent FIFA-run tournaments, such as the Women's World Cup in 2023 in Australia and New Zealand and the men's World Cup in 2022 in Qatar, messages promoting anti-racism and anti-discrimination were regularly displayed. There have been no announcements within Club World Cup stadiums explaining the anti-racism protocols or the organisation's 'universal anti-racism gesture' which was rolled out in September last year and was supposed to be applied to all competitions. Advertisement A FIFA spokesperson said: 'FIFA has a firm, zero-tolerance stance against all forms of discrimination and racism. This commitment was recently reinforced through the unanimous approval by the FIFA Council of the revised FIFA Disciplinary Code, which introduces new measures to fight racist abuse — including increased minimum bans for racist incidents and enhanced financial penalties as duly informed to the 75th FIFA Congress in Asuncion in May 2025.' (Top Image: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Free Malaysia Today
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Research shows footballers need mid-season break says union
FIFPro has led criticism of the Club World Cup being crammed into an already overloaded schedule. (EPA Images pic) PARIS : Professional football must adopt match limits, mid-season breaks and compulsory summer holidays to safeguard players, a report commissioned by international union FIFPro said on Thursday. FIFPro said in a statement a study of 'calendar congestion and excessive workload' by 70 specialists working in professional men's football for clubs and national teams had recommended safety standards which, it said, international football lacks. It made 12 recommendations and highlighted several in a press release. These included mandatory four-week off-season breaks, with two of those commitment free and mandatory mid-season breaks. It also wanted minimum four-week retraining periods after off-season breaks before players return to competition. To manage travel fatigue management football should ensure rest periods after long-haul flights Specific workload safeguards should be introduced for players under 21. It also urged 'seasonal match limits and fixture congestion controls'. 'Decoding the human body, performance, and sport-related injuries will be a lifelong scientific exercise for all of us,' Darren Burgess, chair of the FIFPro high-performance advisory network, said. 'However, the results of this study show that there are certain minimum standards such as adequate rest between matches, and proper off-season breaks, that are common sense, aligned with scientific evidence and, above all, required by global occupational health and safety standards.' The Dutch-based organisation released the report three days before Sunday's kick off of FIFA's expanded mid-summer Club World Cup in the US. FIFPro has led criticism of the lucrative 32-team tournament which has been crammed into an already overloaded schedule.
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
FIFPro says research shows footballers need mid-season break
Professional football must adopt match limits, mid-season breaks and compulsory summer holidays to safeguard players, a report commissioned by international union FIFPro said on Thursday. FIFPro said in a statement a study of 'calendar congestion and excessive workload' by 70 specialists working in professional men's football for clubs and national teams had recommended safety standards which, it said, international football lacks. It made 12 recommendations and highlighted several in a press release. These included mandatory four-week off-season breaks, with two of those commitment free and mandatory mid-season breaks. It also wanted minimum four-week retraining periods after off-season breaks before players return to competition To manage travel fatigue management football should ensure rest periods after long-haul flights Specific workload safeguards should be introduced for players under 21. It also urged 'seasonal match limits and fixture congestion controls'. 'Decoding the human body, performance, and sport-related injuries will be a lifelong scientific exercise for all of us,' Dr. Darren Burgess, Chair of the FIFPro High-Performance Advisory Network, said. ALSO READ | Who will play FIFA CWC 2025? 'However, the results of this study show that there are certain minimum standards such as adequate rest between matches, and proper off-season breaks, that are common sense, aligned with scientific evidence and, above all, required by global occupational health and safety standards.' The Dutch-based organisation released the report three days before Sunday's kick off of FIFA's expanded mid-summer Club World Cup in the United States. FIFPro has led criticism of the lucrative 32-team tournament which has been crammed into an already overloaded schedule.
