Gianni Infantino's new book, Forward – The Revolution of Football, has been described as a bizarre and self-serving document that offers a rare glimpse into the mind of the FIFA president. The book, published in late April, arrives just before a controversial World Cup, and has been met with criticism for its tone and content.
According to a review, the book is difficult to obtain and reads more like a mission statement than a traditional biography. It was compiled by Alessandro Alciato and is presented in a fragmented, verse-like format. Infantino's foreword emphasises the 'magic' of football, with repeated references to a 'magic ball' that he claims to touch and play with daily in his office.
The review notes that the book lacks journalistic detachment, with Alciato comparing Infantino to Albert Einstein and Leonardo da Vinci. Infantino also takes aim at his predecessor, Sepp Blatter, though the specifics of this criticism are not detailed in the source material. The book has been described as an 'alibi' and an 'internal directive', rather than a genuine attempt at transparency.
One of the few personal details included is Infantino's childhood memory of travelling on a train to collect scrap metal. However, the review concludes that the book is largely uninformative and self-congratulatory, offering little insight into FIFA's operations or the upcoming World Cup.
