Meeting on Tuesday with top leaders from international soccer’s governing body, FIFA, President Trump should have read them the riot act.
After all, FIFA remains one of the world’s most corrupt organizations and a disgrace to one of the world’s very greatest sports. The supremely corrupt organization was finally confronted by U.S. indictments in 2015 — which saw dozens of prosecutions.
FIFA now says it has healed up from its corruption ailment. Reality says otherwise.
FIFA’s current president reflects as much. Because while Gianni Infantino claims he brings new integrity to his organization, his conduct shows the opposite is true. Consider some of the choices that Infantino has made in recent years.
Apparently unaware of the striking appearance of cronyism, Infantino accepted free private jet flights at the expense of the 2018 World Cup host, Russia, and the 2022 host, Qatar. As the BBC reported, Infantino also previously “demanded FIFA hire an external driver, who then billed the governing body for driving Infantino’s family and advisors around while he was abroad.” A fan of living the high life on others’ dimes, Infantino also charged FIFA $11,300 “for mattresses at his home.” Oh, and the good president has also stacked FIFA’s executive leadership with unqualified cronies.
This is the man FIFA picked to lead them out of the aftermath of selling two World Cups to the highest bribers?
Give me a break. To claim that FIFA is a reformed organization is either to reach for the height of sarcasm or the depths of delusion. And don’t take my word for it, listen to English soccer coach Ian Holloway’s explanation back in 2010.
