FIFA President Gianni Infantino comes under fire for Migrant comments

NIYI IYANDA
January 26, 2022

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has come under fire for comments he made concerning the migrant crisis in Europe

Gianni Infantino has faced harsh criticism following comments he made while advocating for a Biennial World Cup.

Infantino said football is dominated by the few who "have everything" and it needs to be more global and inclusive.

"We need to find ways to include the entire world, to give hope to Africans so that they don't need to cross the Mediterranean to find, maybe, a better life but more probably death in the sea," Infantino told the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in France.

Infantino made this statement as more than 300 were rescued this week from several boats trying to reach the Canary Islands from North Africa.

"We need to give dignity, not by giving charity but by allowing the rest of the world as well to participate," Infantino told lawmakers at a session he attended with Arsene Wenger, FIFA's director of global development.

FIFA has faced strong resistance across European football since launching a formal proposal to organise men's and women's World Cups every two years instead of four.

Infantino has said organising more editions of the World Cup will lead to more countries qualifying and fuel interest there.

It would also raise billions of dollars for FIFA and increase funding for its 211 member federations to develop football.

"In Europe, there is no need for additional possibilities and events," Infantino told lawmakers at the 47-nation Council of Europe

One such person is the head of Kick It Out, Tony Burnett. Burnett frowned on Infantino's comments and said the proposal is only a money-making scheme.

"FIFA is a multi-billion profit-making organisation. They already have the funds to invest in creating and inspiring opportunities for disadvantaged people around the world.

"It is therefore completely unacceptable to suggest that a biennial World Cup, could be a solution for migrants who risk their lives, sometimes fleeing war-torn countries, to seek a better life," Burnett said.

Burnett suggested, "If FIFA has a genuine commitment to tackling inequality, they should be investing time and resource into charitable causes on the ground.

XXXXTENTACION:
Africa why
Why all these deaths
So many destructions in our blessed land...

Develop our country: NO!


Vote good leaders: NO!

If it is to vote for brown teeth drug barons we go sabi that one...

princeemmma:
This is why we need accept and rebuild what we have and fight to have a great life, instead of running around to deaths............. If i can't make my stand in my country, then i don't have the right to think of making my stand in other country... "my parent once ask me to travel out, and i found that the amount we spending at the end of the day could start a very good business, then why do i have to travel out" even if i want get access to other country, i don't need to seek a die hard method..........this is the right time we have to decide, not yeye argument on the internet about tribe, race and all sorts.

All we need is a leader who will never depreciate, a leader who will understand the heart of the people. Then how do we choose this leader? It is by Voting them in.

I refuse to cast just my single vote for a rogue who is going to torment the country for another tenure

NB: Have not seen the right person yet

Mordecai:


Infantino was right. Those asking them to put money into charitable causes are ignoring the crux of his message reproduced below:

"We need to give dignity, not by giving charity but by allowing the rest of the world as well to participate,"

franchasng:
Don't mind them.


Giving charity as in donating to IDPs caused by terrorists...terrorists who became terrorists out of poverty, lack of civilized education and reasoning.


Infantino is completely right.
See the nonsense you're saying.
Why 1 million youths playing football on Europe? Why not here in Nigeria?
Why not see ways to develop our local league?
But na to run mouth about 1 million Nigerian youths playing in Europe.
Getat abeg


Europe have it all already, sports and its sister events should have more focus on Africa, it will go a long way in liberating African youths.



Imagine if we have one million Nigerian youths playing professional football and other sports in Europe and earning legitimate money?


Most of those African migrants risking their lives to migrate to Europe via dangerous routes are highly talented youths who are good in swimming, jumping, football, wrestling, boxing, etc. If the world expand and develop more on sports with a focus on Africa, it will help to discover and develop more African youths and give them dignity like Infantino proposed.



World cup should be biennial truly, I have querried this in the past.


Africans just like forming victim all the time, the man is spot on

WoundedLamb:
The title is misleading. There was clearly a debate and each person had something to say. The idea that football could help African migrants didn't sit well with Burnett and he made it clear. However, the title made it look like there was a backlash. Now, there'll eventually be a backlash. Lol.