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Fifa boss Infantino with World Cup trophy
Photo:
ULMER / imago images/ULMER press photo agency
Fifa boss Gianni Infantino has criticized Europe's stance on the debate about a World Cup every two years.
“We see football moving in a direction where few have everything and the majority have nothing.
In Europe, the World Cup takes place twice a week because the best players play in Europe,” said the President of the World Football Association before the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.
Even in Europe there is a big imbalance, Infantino said.
The vast majority of Europe don't see the best players and don't compete in the top competitions.
The change in the World Cup rhythm has been a major issue in football for months - the European Football Union and the South American Confederation Conmebol are against it.
So far, the World Championships have been held every four years.
Both sides are currently struggling to get their point across.
The dispute about the future World Cup rhythm is also a dispute between the PR strategists, who unpack their entire range of tools for it.
Old stars promoting FIFA.
Billions in earnings that Infantino promises.
Uefa boss Aleksander Čeferin tries not to devalue his product, the European Football Championship, if the World Cup takes place too often.
The top clubs fear that their players will spend too much energy in the tournaments instead of regenerating in the summer for the coming season in the league and Champions League.
Everyone has their own interests and everyone tries to sell them as football values.
You have to keep this PR battle in mind in order to be able to classify Infantino's new statements.
"We have to involve the whole world," he said now: "We have to give the Africans hope that they don't have to come across the Mediterranean to maybe be able to lead a better life here.
We must give them opportunities and dignity.«
Infantino, meanwhile, has also defended World Cup hosts Qatar from ongoing criticism, especially on human rights issues.
“Change doesn't come quickly.
In Europe it took centuries and decades.
Thanks to the World Cup and thanks to the spotlight, the system has developed in record time in just a few years,” said Infantino, adding: “There is still a lot to be done, a lot to change.
We have to keep up the pressure but also acknowledge that there have been changes.”
Infantino recently caused a stir with his unusual move to Qatar.
Infantino has been living mainly in Doha since October, writes the Swiss newspaper »SonntagsBlick«.
There he rented a house for himself and his family.
Two of his four daughters, it is said, went to school in the emirate.
Fifa had confirmed this to the newspaper.
A spokesman said that the president continues to work at the headquarters in Zurich and continues to pay taxes in Switzerland.
He spends half his working hours in Doha.
bka/dpa
