Infantino's Faustian Bargain with Trump
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has repeatedly sought to ingratiate himself with Donald Trump, supposedly to secure preferential treatment for FIFA from the US government. However, this strategy has backfired, tarnishing the sport's reputation and entangling football in divisive politics, according to US Soccer Federation vice-president Nathán Goldberg Crenier.
Betrayal of Football's Values
Infantino has aligned FIFA with Trump, whose political project is rooted in division and selfishness, betraying football's inclusive and democratic values. He has allowed his personal relationship with Trump to influence disciplinary decisions, such as the red card suspension of USMNT striker Folarin Balogun, and created a 'peace prize' for Trump, who subsequently threatened military action against NATO allies and launched a war with Iran.
Crossing the Line
Infantino has repeatedly crossed the line between professionalism and groveling, making frequent White House appearances, overshadowing Chelsea's Club World Cup victory, and politicizing FIFA's agenda. He has even rented office space in Trump Tower, channeling FIFA's wealth to Trump despite operating a permanent office in Miami.
What Infantino Got in Return
In return for his deference, Infantino received boasts of intervening in FIFA's disciplinary review process during the World Cup and threats of annexing Canada and launching strikes on Mexico, the co-hosts. Trump is reportedly holding governmental guarantees for the 2031 Women's World Cup hostage to force FIFA to adopt his policies.
Damage to Soccer's Integrity
The biggest casualty of Trump's meddling in the Balogun case was soccer's integrity. US Soccer benefited from having a star player back, but the incident tainted the team's credibility and reputation worldwide, unfairly clouding their achievements. Infantino plans to reward Trump with the honor of handing out the World Cup trophy on Sunday.
Lack of Accountability
Infantino has faced little accountability for dragging soccer through the mud, reflecting a battle for the soul of the sport. UEFA has called his behavior a pursuit of 'private political interests' that 'does the game no service,' and the former chair of FIFA's governance committee called it a 'clear violation' of FIFA's code of ethics.
Growing Opposition
Senior FIFA staff have pushed back on Infantino's pandering to Trump, and the president of the Norwegian Football Federation called for the abolition of the 'peace prize' while supporting an ethics investigation. Many FIFA members privately vent their frustration about Infantino's 'level of vanity,' and UEFA may be looking for a candidate to challenge him.
Call for Reform
Goldberg Crenier urges federations to oppose Infantino's vision and pursue structural governance reforms to shift power away from the FIFA president to the Council, Congress, and Secretary General, ensuring no single individual can act unilaterally to soccer's detriment again.
