Condemning Infantino’s comments, Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe, posted on Twitter: “How low can Infantino go? Instrumentalising death in the Mediterranean to sell his megalomaniac plan is beyond words.”
His speech also failed to win over those present, who went on to adopt a resolution on football governance and human rights saying, among other things, that Fifa’s plan for a biennial World Cup every two years could have “disastrous consequences for world football”.
The plan, fronted led by former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, was already facing fierce opposition from within European football and political organisations.
Infantino’s speech was also denounced by Kick It Out, whose chief executive, Tony Burnett, said: “Fifa is a multi-billion profit making organisation. It already has the funds to invest in creating and inspiring opportunity for disadvantaged people around the world.
“It is therefore completely unacceptable to suggest that a biennial World Cup, predominantly set up to drive further profits for Fifa, could be a solution for migrants who risk their lives, sometimes fleeing war-torn countries, to seek a better life.
“If Fifa has a genuine commitment to tackling inequality, it should be investing time and resource into charitable causes on the ground, rather than disguising what appears to be a profit-making biannual World Cup as the answer to any existing problems.”
Infantino said in a statement: “Given that certain remarks made by me before the Council of Europe earlier today appear to have been misinterpreted and taken out of context, I wish to clarify that, in my speech, my more general message was that everyone in a decision-making position has a responsibility to help improve the situation of people around the world. If there are more opportunities available, including in Africa, but certainly not limited to that continent, this should allow people to take these opportunities in their own countries. This was a general comment, which was not directly related to the possibility of playing a Fifa World Cup every two years.”
