Infantino’s remarks followed hot on the heels of an extraordinary internal email to FIFA staf in which secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom appeared to distance himself from Infantino on his since-abandoned proposal to open the World Cup to private investment, describing the fiasco surrounding the plan as “a sad and reproachable series of events.”
Pirate Irwin
Posted inSoccer America Daily
Norway set to make formal complaint to FIFA over Balogun red card saga
The Norges Fotballforbund (NFF) has already formally complained over FIFA president Gianni Infantino awarding soccer’s governing body’s inaugural Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump, which was widely ridiculed. • Trump’s involvement in the Balogun affair sparked the controversy. • “When you bend a rule like this, you’re on a slippery slope that will put the whole game at risk,” said NFF president Lise Klaveness.
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Wrexham rise showcases Football League’s pyramid in U.S.
Wrexham’s exploits since being bought by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have helped lift “the hood” on lower-league English football and boosted its popularity in the United States, former West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand told AFP. The 40-year-old, who is now an ambassador for the Hammers, said Wrexham’s climb up the English Football […]
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Infantino and Trump — handshakes, warmth and a mutual interest
The heads of state who have felt the lash of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tongue in the Oval Office could do worse than seek advice from FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, who seems to have gotten their relationship down to a fine art. Infantino has shown a deft touch when it comes to dealing with hard-nosed […]
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‘The beautiful game’ falls for AI’s charms
Sports has been unable to resist the surge of artificial intelligence, and the biggest one of them all—soccer—is benefiting from data that AI can supply and the human eye cannot.
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New platform provides a shop window for African talent
Africa could break the glass ceiling of winning the World Cup in the next 10 years, partly thanks to a platform highlighting to foreign clubs the most talented youth from the continent
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‘New goals’: Sports aids maimed Ukrainian veterans
Sports has given Ukrainian veterans maimed in the war with Russia “new dreams and goals to aspire to,” Ukraine legend Andriy Shevchenko has told AFP. Some of those veterans are in the Ukrainian squad currently taking part in the Euro 2024 football amputee championship in France. Shevchenko, the 2004 Ballon D’Or winner and the son […]
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Birmingham City sacks Rooney after dismal 15-game spell
Wayne Rooney said it would “take some time to get over this setback” after he was sacked as manager of English second-tier Birmingham City on Tuesday following a disastrous spell in charge. The 38-year-old former Manchester United and England star was appointed in October after 15 months at the helm of D.C. United, whose playoff […]
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Italian great Gianluca Vialli dies at 58, sparking a stream of tributes
Former Juventus, Chelsea and Italy striker Gianluca Vialli has died of pancreatic cancer aged 58, sparking a stream of tributes to a player who was stylish on and off the pitch. Vialli was diagnosed with cancer in 2017 but was still able to play a significant role in Italy’s European Championship title-winning campaign in 2021 […]
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Old Firm: Furushashi's late strike earns Celtic share of points with Rangers
Kyogo Furuhashi‘s late leveler earned Scottish Premiership leader Celtic a 2-2 draw with bitter rival Rangers on Monday to maintain a nine-point lead at the top of the standings. The 27-year-old Japanese international’s 15th goal of the campaign ended Rangers manager Michael Beale’s perfect record — four wins in his previous four matches — since […]