Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not the biggest fan of associations and that I’m at loggerheads with FIFA. Things couldn’t get any worse with FIFA, I once thought. After all, former President Sepp Blatter was terrible enough. Things got even worse. Evil has a name: Gianni Infantino. The man almost single-handedly pushed commercialization beyond the limits of what was tolerable. Think of the Club World Cup, through which the FIFA powerful have access to club teams.
The awarding of the 2026 World Cup to the USA, Canada and Mexico also did not bode well. As part of the group draw a week ago, confirmation: The FIFA Peace Prize, invented by FIFA, was awarded to US President Donald Trump. It’s really interesting that a football association is offering a peace prize. Next year the FIFA Prizes for Literature and Art? Of course, the choice had to go to Trump, as it was all about kissing the powerful man’s feet. An event to shame others. The only person to criticize the price and choice was the President of the Norwegian Football Association, Lise Klaveness. DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, who sits with Klaveness on the FIFA Council led by Infantino – he remained silent.
When will German football officials finally stand on the side of the people they are supposed to represent based on their position? They don’t understand the voices of the fans or they don’t hear them. Or both. Maybe they should just clear their space so that true stakeholders in German football can open the windows in Frankfurt am Main – so that fresh air can come in.
“Sport free!” from the fan advocate.
