FIFA president Gianni Infantino made it clear on Friday that the decision not to allow teams to wear the captain’s armband with the inclusive and pro-diversity ‘One Love’ message during the World Cup in Qatar was not a matter of «banning» but based on the idea that «soccer is played on the pitch».
«It’s not about banning and not banning, we have a regulation that says on the pitch you play soccer. Everyone is free to express their views and opinions as long as it is in a respectful way, but when it comes to the field of play you have to respect soccer,» Infantino told a press conference.
The leader stressed that this position «is nothing new» and is limited to «protecting soccer», also stressing that they must not forget that they are «a global organization». «We don’t have to discriminate against anyone based on the legislation, the regime, the values and the feelings they have,» he warned.
«It is 211 soccer teams and their fans who want to come and enjoy soccer and, honestly, I think we are defending values, human rights, the rights of everybody in FIFA and in the World Cup,» continued Infantino who believes that «everybody has their own problems» and that fans watching soccer in stadiums or through television «just want to spend 90 minutes or whatever without having to think about anything but enjoying a little moment of pleasure and joy or at least emotion.»
He also defended Qatar, which has hosted «the best» World Cup in history. «Many people have come and discovered the Arab world, which they did not know or knew only from the media. At the same time, the people of Qatar have welcomed many people from all over the world and the world has been able to see that its people are basically positive and not negative,» he said.
On the other hand, Infantino confirmed that in the event of being re-elected as everything indicates next year, he could still opt for one more term until 2021 because this would theoretically be the third and last one allowed by FIFA regulations since the Executive Committee considers that he is in the first one, since the period between 2016 and 2019 completed that of Joseph Blatter, after he was suspended for corruption.
In this regard, the president was «very grateful and proud» to the more than 200 associations that support him. «I also thank the others,» said the Italian-Swiss, who also celebrated the good economic health despite the pandemic. «The forecast until the end of 2026 does not even include the new club World Cup and the marketing results should have a significant impact,» he detailed.
The leader confirmed that FIFA’s revenues at the end of the year would amount to $7.5 billion, $1 billion more than budgeted, and a budget had been approved for the 2023-2026 cycle, with expected revenues of $11 billion.
