"I never talked to Trump to ask him to organize 2026 in America and not in Morocco. I spoke to him only after the vote, in August. That accusation is also a falsehood ". Gianni Infantino defends himself in the first interview after the dissemination of the documents of Football Leaks that involve him on various issues, from the Club World Championship to financial fair play (when he was at Uefa), from Fifa to Qatar investments, replicating point by point . "There is not a comma of illegal or even a violation of a regulation. There is nothing. There is only that Fifa has totally changed compared to the past. I'm a son of Italian immigrants, I'm changing Fifa, maybe someone was not used to it ... ".
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2026 - "The system to assign it is the most democratic and public that exists in the world. With certain rules from the beginning. I had to resist the pressure of those who asked to return to the past ... ".
FINANCIAL FAIR PLAY - "I am a FIFA president, I was an executive secretary general at UEFA. My goal was to help clubs, not destroy them. I met Psg and City like other teams to find a 'settlement', an agreement, but the final decision always belongs to the judging panels, not to me. I did not even have the tools to change the cards on the table. And anyway, City and Psg have been fined about twenty million. Not only. Out of 30 clubs, only 2 were excluded: Milan, which Tas has reintegrated into the cups, and a Russian team. When we talk about favoritism we are wrong: the 'small' clubs excluded have had this sanction because they have not paid their debts, their salaries, which is much more serious ".
WORLD CLUB - "It should also be done to prevent the Superlega and those summer tournaments that are played in America or around the world and that will lead to the Superlega. With the FIFA tournament there will also be solidarity and redistribution. In March we will see: I always try to reach agreement, but if it will not be possible it will be decided by a majority, as happens in democracy ".
QATAR A 48 - "The World Championship at 48 will be from 2026. However, if in Qatar it will be possible, we will anticipate enlargement. Or nothing".
FIFA INVESTMENTS - "We have quadrupled investments for the federations and increased turnover and reserves. All payments are under audit. Why, instead, who does certain inquiries do not ask where did the old Fifa's money? They were always many, but we do not know ... ".
VAR - "In 10 years they will wonder how we were so stupid to start so late".
NO CHAMPIONSHIP ABROAD - "FIFA has said no to the Spanish proposal to play a few games abroad because we do not believe that in turn would be happy to host Premier League matches in Spain.The Super Cup is different, it can be done, it is a tournament however less important ".
Tags:
FIFA