The fallout of this summer’s World Cup has already begun, with FIFA and Gianni Infantino in the eye of the storm.
On the morning of the World Cup final, we saw accusations of fraud and corruption from the Council of Europe, who claim FIFA’s handling of the tournament has raised massive concerns about the integrity of the organization and by extension, the competition itself.
In no particular order: political interference, racist abuse, shady betting partnerships, inconsistency with application of the rules, the list goes on.
Some of those sentiments are now being echoed here in the States. Vice President of US Soccer, Nathan Goldberg Crenier, penned an open letter condemning Infantino’s behaviour, including criticizing the decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s ban.
US Soccer chief ‘cannot condone’ Gianni Infantino’s actions at World Cup
We are well used to hearing people give out about the FIFA president, but this is a rather unexpected source.
US Soccer, in truth, benefitted from Infantino’s unprecedented decision to waive a suspension of one of their best players. But from an ethical perspective, Crenier feels compelled to take a stance.
In a piece for The Guardian, he wrote: “For years now, Infantino has betrayed those values by aligning FIFA, the organization that represents the people’s game, with Trump, whose political project is openly rooted in division, selfishness and violence.
“Because Infantino’s actions harm soccer in a way I cannot condone, and especially because he’s doing so by inserting himself in my own country’s domestic politics, I feel compelled to denounce them publicly.”
He then turned his attention to the Balogun controversy.
Anyone without allegiance to the USMNT could see immediately that the decision stank. Fears of interference were all but confirmed by Donald Trump, who proudly explained that he had been on the phone to Infantino pleading the US case.
Crenier accuses him of “allowing his personal relationship with Trump to muddle the outcome” of the decision. He also suggests the “political firestorm” that resulted put unfair pressure on the US players, and wants accountability for Infantino.
This won’t be the last call for an investigation into Infantino’s conduct, which makes it rather bizarre that he is a shoe-in to be re-elected for another term.
Perhaps this growing noise will cause FIFA to change their behaviour between now and 2030. Although, history offers little hope of that.
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