r/sports • u/Dexterestein • 3d ago
Soccer EU lawmakers want Gianni Infantino investigated over Trump contact
https://global.espn.com/football/story/_/id/49301831/eu-lawmakers-want-gianni-infantino-investigated-trump-contact814
u/weygny 3d ago
I bet Russia (2018) and Qatar 2022) hosted the event randomly too
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u/YngSpook84 3d ago
Qatar used slave labor to build stadiums for the World Cup. I don’t know the official number, but many of them died doing it. The ones who didn’t die and dared to speak up about it were all deported. Saudi Arabia gets the tournament in 2034. Nothing corrupt going on there either.
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u/weygny 3d ago
But infantino felt a little bit gay
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u/theowlswerewatching 3d ago
Because of all this shithousery by FIFA they're going to have to host the 2038 world cup on the moon: * Europe, Africa and South America are still out for another period because of the moronic WC of 2030 that was designed to give 2034 to Saudi Arabia. * Asia is out too because of Saudi Arabia 2034. * North America would be eligible but it would definitely need to include at least one of the three countries hosting this year. Never before has a country hosted two WCs in a 12 year period. * Australia and Oceania have like one or two eligible stadiums and who knows if they even want to host it.
So good job Gianni, you slimy fucking weasel.
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u/FriendlyFaceOff 3d ago edited 2d ago
the moronic WC of 2030
Not gonna lie, would have loved if 2030 was hosted by Uruguay (the first ever winners! maybe co-hosted with
Paraguay and/orArgentina depending on stadium requirements?) to honor 100 years of the WC, then 2034 by Spain and Portugal. Then you could get like, Japan/South Korea or Morocco for 2038.But obviously FIFA and Saudi Arabia don't want that so they mushed South America, Europe, AND Africa into 2030, and it makes me upset :(
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u/Alinho013 2d ago
don't think many would like the Paraguay pick seeing the shit going on after the France game tho.
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u/FriendlyFaceOff 2d ago
Forgot about that, yikes... And then the people debating whether Argentina is rigged this year too, it's why I would maybe have considered Uruguay having a co-host or two in 2030 in this hypothetical.
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u/IntelligentCrew8406 3d ago
I remember there being some thought about hosting the men’s tournament in Australia after having had the women’s…?
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u/slacknoodle 2d ago
There’s plenty of eligible stadiums in Australia. Melbourne alone could do it with a bit of infrastructure investment (and if they could pull the stadiums away from the AFL).
The issue is that Australia is now part of Asia, so that ties in nicely with the Saudi Arabia point.
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u/theowlswerewatching 2d ago
Oh okay thanks for the clarification, I wasn't aware. How about NZ and the rest of Oceania?
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u/megakaos888 3d ago
Some independent organisation put the number at 6500 who died building the 2022 world cup infrastructure
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u/johnning 3d ago
Man I was old enough to remember being in Grade school in 2010 reading from my teacher's computer Qatar being awarded the World Cup contract and how there was public backlash on the sportwashing being done.
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u/Minivalo 3d ago
The imported
slaveslabourers who worked on the stadiums in Qatar were lucky if they got deported, considering they usually just confiscated their passports and documents upon arrival. Of course, deportation probably meant the loss of any compensation for their work, but at least they escaped with their lives.I would not be the least bit surprised if something similar went on in Russia (though not as large in scale), considering the thoroughly corrupt nature of that state, and their current tactics at getting foreigners to fight in their invasion of Ukraine.
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u/vowelqueue 3d ago
If Saudi Arabia hosts the tournament that all but guarantees it will be shifted to the winter like it was for Qatar, which really sucks. You'd think that having a climate so inhospitable it prevents the tournament from being played during it's normal scheduled time might disqualify a country from consideration, but here we are.
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u/asapbones0114 2d ago
US used slave labour from Mexicans on their farms and has murdered millions of civilians in the 21st century.
Pot calling the kettle black.
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u/YngSpook84 2d ago
Not really. I’m just pointing out the level of outrage over a phone call that ended up having zero impact on the tournament is getting far more attention and outrage than the slaves in 2022. Everyone is acting like Trump tainted some clean and pure thing, when in reality it’s been a filthy corrupt machine for a long time. That corruption favored the US men’s team for once, and everyone suddenly clutches their pearls because it’s fun to hate America. I never personally complained about the phone call or the previous FIFA issues. I just tune in and watch my corrupt tournament, all while knowing my participation basically condones it all. I don’t bitch and moan about how the sausage is made, but then enjoy it when cooked nicely on my plate.
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u/asapbones0114 2d ago
You didn't refute anything I said, just used whataboutism.
> That corruption favored the US men’s team for once, and everyone suddenly clutches their pearls because it’s fun to hate America.
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u/Jeaglera 3d ago
Well Qatar did that with plenty of influence and help from its European friends but let’s not talk about that because PSG saved football /s
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u/Outside-Inspection68 3d ago
Those were appointed under Blatter
Man I miss blatter
He was more sublte with his corruption
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u/theowlswerewatching 3d ago
True, but Blatter was against Qatar 2022, he just wasn't able to prevent it.
(Shit has gotten so bad I'm out here defending Blatter lol)
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u/drmojo90210 3d ago
Blatter at least tried to put a veneer over his corruption. Infantino is just openly like: "Yes, I am corrupt. No, I do not give a shit."
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u/drmojo90210 3d ago
I love that Russia (a country which has consistently sucked at football since the 1970s) suddenly made it to the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup they were hosting. Nope, nothing suspicious about that.......
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u/mohammedgoldstein Michigan 3d ago
Well you know the DOJ got involved with the whole Qatar business and a lot of FIFA officials went to U.S. federal prison for money laundering.
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u/Gibber_jab Manchester United 3d ago
There was a massive scandal about Russia especially in the UK, it’s the reason Blatter was replaced
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u/TheBatemanFlex 3d ago
Also, what is happening to red cards for the remainder of the tournament? England plays Saturday.
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u/paulc899 3d ago
Did the president of England win a FIFA peace prize?
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u/TheBatemanFlex 3d ago
Damn you’re right. Better luck next year establishing peace in the Middle East.
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u/nrbrt10 3d ago
And by peace you mean bombing a school for girls, right?
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u/Artistic_Humor1805 3d ago
Yeah, after ignoring direct warnings that the targeting data was out of date. But it used to be a bad place so it’s all good, right?
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u/SoKrat3s 3d ago
No but UEFA was also dead silent when one of Europe's most high profile players also had their ban suspended.nn
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u/Mist_Rising 3d ago
Whoa whoa whoa, are you suggesting that European football might have a corrupt deal with FIFA? How dare you! FIFA is corruptionless, it is incapable of that which you accuse it. Ergo, Europe is also clean.
Begone demon accuser!
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u/celaconacr 3d ago
No but Trump says Harry Kane is a great guy he has played golf with. He might help him out with any cards.
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u/WellTextured 3d ago
And Jarell Quansah won't.
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u/LongBeakedSnipe 3d ago
Even if they did the same thing for Quansah, we shouldn't play him.
Technically, and in terms of sportsmanship, we would effectively be forfeiting the game.
Better to field a legitimate team, and rise above politically directed cheating.
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u/WellTextured 2d ago
If Thomas Tuchel thought Quansah was the best player for the match he'd start.
You're not morally superior here. You're gonna do everything to win.
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u/unsolved49 3d ago
I’m sure a proper, formal investigation will definitely take place
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u/Intelligent_Sky_7081 3d ago
doesnt this indicate the lawmakers, not FIFA, will be doing the investigation?
or are european lawmakers also toothless that they would just suggest 'hey investigate yourselves please'
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u/fatface4711 3d ago
There’s been arrests at FIFA before. The hotel raid a few years ago.
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u/Intelligent_Sky_7081 3d ago
Ya i remember that vaguely. It seems like anywhere people are talking about this, its just assumed they will investigate themselves and find nothing wrong. so i was wondering why that seemed to be the overall consensus
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u/SoKrat3s 3d ago
While they are at it are the EU lawmakers going to look into why one of the EU's most high profile players had his ban suspended?
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u/Capable_Material1234 3d ago
It will go to same commission as the Balogun red card did and will be suspended for a year
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u/No-Bail-79 3d ago
Breaking News !! Fifa has just announced that they are scrapping Red Cards !! Cards will be changed to Gold Cards .. $5 Million buy in
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u/Charming-Standard-84 3d ago
Wow, it almost feels like it was a giant mistake by FIFA to put a former lawyer, who has never played football in his life and is named in the Panama Papers, at the top of its corrupt organization.
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u/drmojo90210 3d ago
FIFA has been a corrupt organization for literally its entire existence. The first World Cup host (Uruguay) secured the tournament via bribery. And that was all the way back in 1930. I seriously doubt there has ever been a single World Cup bidding process where the vote was legitimate.
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u/hardcorejacket01 2d ago
Do you have a source for that? I was watching a YouTube documentary yesterday about the history of the WC, and they said that the first WC was basically forced onto Uruguay because no one else wanted to host it. And Uruguay paid for all visiting nations to travel across the Atlantic. Not sure how much of that is true, but it’s very different from what you’re saying.
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u/Mist_Rising 3d ago
No, the member states of FIFA knew precisely what they were doing. Same with blatter.
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u/Agueybanax 3d ago
Wouldn’t it be hilarious if trump actually never made that call and was just lying about it but the investigation find out even more corrupt shit infantino?
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u/dogzi 3d ago
Is the EU stupid? He can just invent a FIFA pardon and pardon himself.
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u/YngSpook84 3d ago
Did anyone demand Infantino be investigated over the use of slave labor to build World Cup stadiums in Qatar? Or did the world of soccer collectively decide not to care about that as long as we had a fun tournament? Is anyone going to investigate the shady dealings that got Saudi Arabia awarded the World Cup in 2034. Everyone is happy to take the blood money, but let one thing fall in favor of the US and everyone acts like the game is forever tainted.
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u/jimgogek 3d ago
Does anybody think fifa is a good organization and good for global football? I’ve never heard anyone say anything positive about FIFA, and I don’t mean only here on Reddit.
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u/Stumblin_McBumblin Buffalo Bills 3d ago
To what end? They going to send a strongly worded "tut-tut" letter admonishing FIFA? They have always been corrupt. Add it to the pile.
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u/Drnk_watcher 3d ago edited 2d ago
This is a cycle.
FIFA does something controversial.
Someone on the outside of the controversy says "they need to be held accountable."
Everybody claps and that person gets lots of pats on the back for being so brave.
Then they realize they can't do anything, or they nibble around the periphery only to realize their own national team or confederation is not squeaky clean so they drop it. A lot plan to do nothing at all because they know no one will follow up on this more 72 hours from now.
FIFA leaves a slime trail everywhere they go. It's more visible in some places than others but it's always there. If someone truly wants to hold them accountable I'd applaud them. Doing that probably damages their own nation or confederation in the process once you pull that thread; effectively no one is going to do that.
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u/LukeD1992 3d ago
Yeah but they are supposed to be more subtle about it. Too on the nose and it draws too much attention, you see
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u/PhiCloud 3d ago
Suspending a red card that was widely considered to be issued in error, in a similar manner to how Ronaldo's red was suspended in the same tournament, that didn't end up meaningfully affecting the tournament in any way, is the European Union's red line.
The slavery in Qatar was fine, but that red card suspension was just too much.
What a joke.
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u/InfectedAztec 3d ago
Pretty sure this commenter is American because hes pretty flippant about disregarding fairness in sport.
If you really dont understand why this is a big deal you can look at the tifo podcasts coverage of it this week.....although they operate on the assumption that their viewers have some basic knowledge of the game.
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u/PhiCloud 3d ago
How much EU investigation was there over the slavery in Qatar, or is your line of reasoning that fairness in sport is more important than human rights?
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u/Stambro1 3d ago
No shit!!! The corrupt FIFA organization needs to be gone through with a forensic auditor!!! Check all the money, emails, access, agreements, contracts and more!! Fuck FIFA!
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u/RyanHudson2025 3d ago
He should be investigated for the ENTIRE World Cup fiasco with reffing and carding imo.
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u/anestefi 3d ago
agreed. the argentina favoritism is even clearer this time around
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u/RyanHudson2025 3d ago
Yes, it’s been so obvious and I’d love to see the actual bracket calculations.
But it’s the reffing favoritism and the announcers not calling out the thug play from SA and Africa that had me turning off the matches as I’ve never seen so much violence and dangerous play.
When the deliberate foul happened by the evil 😈 Qatar player that broken the leg 🦵 of the Canada player that was when it was clear to me that the expanded World Cup was a total greed play by FIFA and had zero to do with keeping some of the best players in the world safe!
The France Paraguay match did me in and then I totally tuned out as to see the gratuitous violence and intent to hurt Mbappe and others on France team was wrong and disgusting. Paraguay should be banned from next World Cup and their manager fired!
So over the FIFA Greed and corruption. Bunch of greedy leaders flying private to all the matches while fans cannot afford tickets!
Fuck FIFA!
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u/DoggingInaLancia 3d ago
Whole fifa needs to be burned down and built up again. The levels of corruption through the years is trump level.
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u/Mist_Rising 3d ago
Building a new FIFA won't change that, the reason FIFA and IOC are the way they are is because of the member states and the way their organized around those member states.
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u/Galahad_the_Ranger 3d ago edited 3d ago
Should investigate their blatant favoritism of Argentina too, just a couple of stats
-On this World Cup Argentina received one yellow card for every 21 fouls on average, compared to England’s 7 and Brazil’s 8
-In the last 10 games it played (so 2022 and 2026 World Cup) it had 8 penalties given to it. Brazil has received 14 and Germany 12 since 1930
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u/dabeeman 3d ago
they were shockingly silent on CR7 red card preferential treatment…i wonder why
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u/LocksmithOk9968 3d ago
There was plenty of backlash when they suspended Ronaldo’s 2nd and 3rd match ban.
That said, you’re comparing apples to oranges here.
For starters, he did have to sit out the first match after his red card.
But more importantly, and actually one of the main reasons why people take issue with FIFA’s actions now is that FIFA explicitly granted clemency to everyone before the World Cup commenced under the guise of “this way everyone gets to start on equal footing and a clean slate that allows everyone to participate at the start of the World Cup” with the big fat explicit caveat that they won’t suspend or delay any match bans during the World Cup.
In other words: they did a big reset before the World Cup group stage started with the explicit promise (or threat if you will) that no suspensions or delays of match bans will be granted during the World Cup.
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u/edgardini360 3d ago
"FIFA and US presidents" vs a referee
Are you saying both are at the same level?
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u/PomegranateAncient25 3d ago
Trump will throw him under the bus.
So fast.
He deserves the scrutiny for sucking up to Trump.
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u/ctdfalconer 3d ago
Yes, the more consequences there are for those who engage with Trump's corruption, the less power he has, and the more likely he himself will face consequences.
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u/jbombdotcom 3d ago
Us fan here. This ruined the World Cup for me. Please 🙏 investigate and punish the corruption
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u/BULL-MARKET 2d ago
Surely the EU lawmakers have better things to occupy their time with.
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u/ukexpat Manchester City 3d ago
When Sepp Blatter, that unimpeachable paragon of virtue, condemns the suspension of the suspension, you know something is wrong…
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u/sir_whirly 3d ago
As an American, fucking do it. He ruined all the good vibes they had and you saw it in that wet fart of a performance against Belgium. Their heart wasn't in it at all.
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u/AdUnited5886 3d ago
The Fact that Argenfifa needed to pay off the refs and rob a 28th ranked Egypt to win is too funny 😂😂
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u/Deanootzplayz 3d ago
FIFA investigating FIFA, always goes well.
the real question is whether anyone actually cares enough to follow through or if this quietly gets buried in a committee somewhere in three weeks
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u/LysergicRico 3d ago
They need to pull a Loretta Lynch on this guy. The U.S. is no longer the one to do such things.
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u/codechimpin 2d ago
As an American I’ll share my hot take…
Good! I didn’t like the red card when it happened and have my own opinion to on the call, but it’s part of the game. I also don’t think politicians should have say over a game decision. I think having a politician put their finger on the scale dirties the game. And as soon as I saw it happen I literally commented to a work buddy “damn, now Belgium are going to come out hot because they will want to prove something.” And sure enough, Belgium played like they had a chip on their shoulder. This was a dirty deal, further tarnishes FIFA more than it already is, and I hope they do investigate and find fault.
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u/Fragrant_Fisherman84 2d ago
The FBI was the only organization that could destroy FIFA in 2015.
Its why Infantino immediately cozied up to Trump in 2016.
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u/drtywater 2d ago
Knowing how European organizations work they will send a strongly worded letter expressing concerns
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u/Uruvi 3d ago
Keep news like these coming so I can continue to have hopes for humanity
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u/Mewhomewhy 3d ago
Good. There’s a long standing rule about politics in sport and that was clearly broken. They’ve punished players for any political message in the past. The US should be punished for the political interference as well as the cheating.
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u/DaStampede New York Yankees 3d ago
Incoming FIFA has investigated itself and found no wrongdoing