Sepp Blatter can no longer bring himself to say Gianni Infantino’s name. Instead, the Swiss administrator – who ran Fifa from 1998 to 2015 until he left amid an enormous corruption scandal – refers to Infantino only as “my successor” and “the leader” as he takes his adversary to task ahead of Friday’s World Cup draw.
It may come as a surprise to see Blatter claim the moral high ground against the man who replaced him, but having been cleared of criminal charges this year, he says “I sleep well and my conscience is tranquil”. Now, he has turned his focus back to the state of the game and the methods of the man who will be front and centre in Washington alongside the US president.
In a wide-ranging interview he says:
- Infantino appears more interested in wooing world leaders than what is right for football
- The “peace prize” Fifa will give to US president Donald Trump on Friday is outrageous
- Infantino has made Saudi Arabia the new “directors” of the sport
- It is “wrong” that Fifa suspended Cristiano Ronaldo’s ban so he would be available for the start of the World Cup
- Infantino ignores players by creating unnecessary competitions such as the Club World Cup
- He has not ruled out a return to Fifa himself at the age of 89
On Infantino
“He has disappeared,” says Blatter, speaking over Zoom from his home in Zurich, of Infantino’s leadership style. “He’s in a sphere. I think he’s already in that sphere where tomorrow he will organise football in the stratosphere.”
With a mischievous grin, Blatter suggests Infantino might like a World Cup played in space. “But then it will be difficult to have referees,” he adds.
What we have today is in its own way stratospheric. Next summer’s World Cup will include 48 teams, playing 104 matches over America, Mexico and Canada as Infantino’s expansion of the football world continues. The 2030 edition will feature six host countries across two continents more than 6,000 miles apart.
Blatter does not approve, but he approves of little Infantino does. They have been fierce enemies since Blatter’s infamous downfall amid financial investigations launched by Switzerland and the FBI. Blatter was cleared of all criminal corruption charges in August, although a civil suit still hangs over him.
Infantino stepped up from his role as Uefa general secretary with a promise to “kick out and punish” those responsible, but nine years on he is facing his own scrutiny.
As well as expanding the World Cup from 32 teams he has introduced the Club World Cup and made major political alliances that include Trump and Saudi Arabia crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.
