FIFA links biennial World Cup to prevent migrant deaths at sea | Football News

Infantino complained that every two years he had linked a plan for a World Cup to giving hope to African migrants.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has sparked outrage by drawing a link between his two-year World Cup plan and the tragedy of migrants in the Mediterranean who should be “given hope” before saying his remarks were “misinterpreted”.

Speaking to MEPs on Wednesday, Infantino said that football was dominated by a few who “have everything” and that it needs to be more global and inclusive.

“I understand that the World Cup is held twice a week in Europe because the best players are playing in Europe,” Infantino said.

“But if we think about the world … who doesn’t see the best players, who doesn’t take part in competitions, we have to think about what football brings, which goes beyond sports.”

The idea of ​​a World Cup every two years, as it has been since 1930, has been the enemy of European and South American federations and major clubs. But it is unanimously endorsed by 54 African federations.

“We need to get into them, find ways to include the whole world, give hope to Africans, that they may not have to cross the Mediterranean to find a better life, but probably death at sea. .

“We need to give them opportunities, and we need to give them dignity, not just charity, but the whole world.”

His comments were quickly criticized on social media.

“My colleagues at Human Rights Watch interview refugees from all over the world almost every day. We write reports about the reasons why they were forced to leave their homes – abuse, difficulties. They never mention the time of the World Cup championships, ”tweeted Andrew Stroehlein, HRW’s media director.

My colleagues at Human Rights Watch interview refugees from all over the world almost daily.

We write reports about the reasons why they were forced to leave their homes – abuse, difficulties.

They never mention the schedule for the World Cup championships. https://t.co/HpsHvBLX40

– Andrew Stroehlein (@astroehlein) January 26, 2022

Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe, similarly dismissed it.

“How far can Infantino go down? The instrumentalization of death in the Mediterranean is beyond words to sell its megalomaniacal plan, ”he tweeted.

This was clarified in a note sent by Infantino to the AFP news agency.

“I want to make it clear that some of the remarks made before the Council of Europe at the beginning were misinterpreted and taken out of context.

“If there are more opportunities, including in Africa, but certainly not limited to that continent, people should be able to take those opportunities in their own countries.

“It was a general comment, and it wasn’t straight away with the chance to play in a World Cup every two years.”