The Cure’s Robert Smith is not a fan of FIFA’s plans for a Super Bowl-style Halftime Show at today’s World Cup Final.
It will be the first time that the tournament’s final match has featured a performance on this scale, as part of Fifa President Gianni Infantino’s plans to “modernize” the event.
Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and K-pop boy band BTS are set to headline the 11-minute musical extravaganza, with Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay also involved. The latter group’s frontman Chris Martin has curated the show.
Sources tell the Independent that in total the show will last around 20 minutes, which has upset many football fans. According to the laws of the game, which are governed by Ifab (the International Football Association Board), half-time breaks should “not exceed 15 minutes.”
Smith, 67, is among the many critics of the move. On The Cure’s official Instagram account he posted: “‘The half-time show, which has been curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, will feature Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira and the K‑pop boyband BTS. Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantosser, has described the half-time show as ‘groundbreaking spectacle’ that will ‘celebrate football, music and our shared values, ensuring a legacy that transcends the final whistle’ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH…”
Smith added several hastags to his post, including “Bread and circuses” and “please just f*** off.”
In a follow-up post, Smith clarified that his frustration was directed at Fifa rather than at the involvement of Coldplay’s Martin. He also criticized the decision to allow President Trump to present the World Cup.
He wrote: “sigh… FOR THOSE OF US NOT QUITE GETTING IT: THE POINT IS NOT R E A L L Y ABOUT W H O IS CURATING OR PERFORMING, IT IS ABOUT THE #MUGWANK I D E A OF A FOOTBALL WORLD CUP FINAL HALF TIME SHOW…”
He continued: “IF YOU NOW UNDERSTAND MY ‘AAAAAAAGH!’ A BIT BETTER, BUT STILL DON’T AGREE, PLEASE ADJUST YOUR RED CAP, YOUR ‘I 🖤 JANNY + DONNY + $$$’ TSHIRT AND… KNOCK YOURSELF OUT? ONWARDS… RSX PS. ‘Infantosser has said he and US president Trumpton will small hand over trophy on Sunday’. SADLY, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH A’S LEFT FOR THE ‘ARGH’ THAT SHOULD FOLLOW…”
He again hashtagged the post “Bread and circuses”, “please just f*** off” and “f***fifa.”
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The Cure are currently on tour in Europe. After their recent headline set at the Isle of Wight festival, The Independent’s Roisin O’Connor wrote: “By the time they reach the spidery, spine-tingling guitar notes of ‘Lullaby’, a perfect half-moon hangs over the stage. It’s a magnificent performance from one of our greatest bands.”