Joe Cole has made his feelings clear on Gianni Infantino (Image: Getty)
Gianni Infantino has found himself at the centre of a tongue-in-cheek ‘conspiracy theory’ after Joe Cole and Gary Lineker suggested the FIFA president has to feature on screen during every World Cup fixture. The Swiss-born official has been spotted at countless matches throughout the tournament, which is taking place across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Infantino is understood to have taken over 27 flights during the competition, frequently travelling between host cities. According to the BBC, he attended two matches daily during the group stage – often hundreds of miles apart, and on certain occasions, he has needed to board three different flights.
Yet his repeated on-screen appearances prompted discussion between Cole and Lineker. “FIFA in general [I’ve been disappointed with], but what you told me about [Gianni] Infantino, I’ve noticed it – I can’t unnotice it,” Cole remarked on The Rest is Football. “Every game, in the first half and the second half, they have to show Infantino’s head on the telly. Just like, you’re the head of the federation, just a megalomania about him: he needs to be front and centre.”
Lineker agreed, saying: “You’ll watch the coverage. In the first 10 minutes of the first half, the first 10 minutes of the second half, you will see a shot of Gianni Infantino.”
Cole went on to express his irritation, saying: “You said that to me and now it’s annoyed me so much, because why would you do that? You know, just go and do what you do and then get off.
“I played in a friendly game with him about five years ago. I was in Dubai, the Dubai Football Federation invited me to play in a game. He was there, there was a couple of ex-players. He was playing in the game and he was just. You’re looking at him, he’s strolling around the pitch, nobody is touching him – everyone’s all like ‘oh Mister…’ The ball dropped in midfield and I thought ‘I could do him here.’
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Cole added: “I could do him here, I pulled out. The gentleman in me pulled out, but I regretted it because I could have really cleaned him out. Infantino’s annoyed me.”
Given the sheer number of fixtures he has attended during this tournament, a FIFA spokesman clarified: “The Fifa president routinely travels, together with relevant officials, on business and tournament-related matters and strives to visit member associations of Fifa whenever he can. Sometimes travel is organised on commercial [including low-cost] airlines and sometimes it is on private charter, depending on which is more efficient and cost-effective under the circumstances.”
Infantino and Donald Trump (Image: Getty)
Last week, he faced fierce criticism and demands for his resignation after Donald Trump interfered in a World Cup disciplinary case. USA striker Folarin Balogun had his one-match suspension overturned following his dismissal in the 2-0 victory over Bosnia in the round of 32.
President Trump subsequently disclosed he had requested Infantino examine the incident. Belgium’s challenge against the ruling was later rejected – although they proceeded to defeat the co-hosts 4-1 and advance to the quarter-finals anyway.
Nevertheless, the controversy surrounding Trump’s involvement is anticipated to continue, with mounting pressure for Infantino to vacate the position he has occupied for a decade.
Infantino has led FIFA since 2016, securing re-election in 2019 and 2023. Now a decade into his tenure, he is set to stand for re-election next year and is currently thought to be the sole candidate.