I don’t like politics in football. I know of its existence and its importance in defining the direction of sport, whether in the macro, global scenario, or in a smaller context, for example, in a club.
Why don’t I like it? Because I find it boring. And, finding it boring, I have no great interest.
I try to stay informed as a professional duty, but if I could, I would discard all the political sports news and just focus on the game: athletes, coaches, teams, championships, refereeing, fans – the components that make football attract and excite.
I avoid, dribble, dodge FIFA, Uefa, Conmebol, CBF and other governing bodies that seem to exist just to disrupt and/or confuse and/or get involved in corruption. But there are times when you can’t close your eyes and pretend nothing is happening.
Even more so when it comes to a subject that affects ordinary people who are passionate about gaming: you and me, who, even though we don’t know each other, we’re not that different.
This is the case with the awards for the best in the world held each year by FIFA, which implemented its own (The Best, “the best”) in 2016 to compete with the Ballon d’Or, from France Football magazine, with which it allied itself for six years (unified award) and then separated.
This Tuesday (30), when I opened my email inbox, I came across a statement from FIFA announcing the creation of a new annual ceremony, in partnership with Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, to reward the best in football.
Like this? And the one that already exists and has created fame? The Best, 10, what will become of her? There is no clarification, and not even people with traffic in the maximum entity of the ball were able to clarify my question.
The management of Swiss-Italian Gianni Infantino has been notable for creating confusion and generating controversies, emphasizing political and economic gains without worrying about the sporting losses of his actions.
First, the absurdity of equating in importance the new Club World Cup (which I call the Supermundial), with 32 teams, to the new Intercontinental Cup, with half a dozen. For Infantino, the winner of each is world champion, with no difference in weight. Go get some media out there.
Second, the absurdity of, in the draw for the World Cup, which will be held in 2026 in the USA, Canada and Mexico, inventing an award (Peace Prize) to simply flatter Donald Trump, the most influential president in the world of the most economically powerful nation in the world. Blatant cheekiness.
Third, the shot at The Best awards, which, if it doesn’t die to be born a name that pleases the Emirati hosts, will be revamped, reformulated, remodeled. But I doubt the brand will sustain itself. The worst was left for her. I’m sorry, because it was good, it had caught on.
Infantino’s interest now is to dress up something old again, adding some silly new addition (perhaps a trophy for “the best Middle Eastern player”) with the sole intention of making the owners of the bufunfa smile. For him, worn-out Europe is the present becoming the past, the thriving Middle East is the present becoming the future.
I criticize Infantino for my reasons, but I recognize that he is smart. Everything he does is politically and economically planned, always thinking about being re-elected for another term, in 2027.
To do this, approach those who can offer you advanced logistics, modern infrastructure, generous media visibility, and breadth of commercial relations. Everything with a lot of luxury and glamour, for him and for those who are with him. Overall, it will please those who matter, and those who matter will give it support (votes).
In his megalomania and personalism, Infantino forgets that the environment of financial abundance in football is an exception, it is for the few. Outside of some large centers, it is poor, unstructured, precarious, with children and teenagers playing barefoot on the dirt and asphalt.
This new annual portentous event in Dubai, played for the press without any sporting format, could not be a greater antithesis to football seen as a whole.
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