FIFA had a “road not taken” option in May 2015 on a leadership path that promised higher standards. FIFA members then voted for Blatter, not Prince Ali of Jordan who is still here, making similar points in the same direction now it’s Infantino’s realm. apnews.com/article/fifa...

Former FIFA VP Prince Ali cites 'blackmail' by Infantino-led soccer body over unpaid prize money

Former FIFA vice president Prince Ali bin Al Hussein has criticized the soccer body’s leadership headed by Gianni Infantino describing prize money withheld from his Jordan national team as a kind of b...

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Rising pressure on FIFA president Infantino. Statements from two of his inner circle, Arsène Wenger and Mattias Grafström, welcoming the demise of the World Cup private equity plan could have praised and urged support for him. They did not even cite his name. apnews.com/article/fifa...

Top FIFA officials Wenger and Grafström distance themselves from Infantino's World Cup sell-off plan

Two senior FIFA executives have distanced themselves from their boss Gianni Infantino’s failed plan to sell stakes in future World Cup profits to private investors.

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2 United 2 Passionate, followed by United Passions: Riyadh Drift

Maybe Christopher Nolan can make a biopic of Gianni Infantino, as Icarus or a tragedy of hubris.

JPMorgan needs some fan representation on the board to save the bank from these ritual humiliations in football every 5 years.

Financial Times@financialtimes.com · 5d ago

JPMorgan has been instrumental in the formation of Fifa’s plans to raise $4.2bn from global investors for a new commercial entity valued at roughly $20bn. That project, just like the Super League, is now at risk of unravelling. ft.trib.al/UC2NX5S

The first leg of the game is over. Now for the second to find a new FIFA president?

The Associated Press@apnews.com · 5d ago

BREAKING: FIFA President Gianni Infantino is abandoning a divisive plan to sell World Cup profits to private equity after massive pushback.

Second senior FIFA official speaks out today against Infantino’s World Cup private equity sell-off plan. COO Kevin Lamour says staff were deceived and “deserve better than contempt and intimidation.” Describes it as one man's project. apnews.com/article/cord...

Senior FIFA official resigns over Infantino's World Cup sell-off plan. Second says it deceived staff

Two senior FIFA officials have criticized Gianni Infantino’s World Cup sell-off plan with one resigning as a presidential adviser and a second saying staff were deceived by project that must not go ah...

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This is getting existential for the FIFA president. Accelerating out of Infantino’s control. apnews.com/article/cord...

FIFA adviser on White House's World Cup panel resigns to protest Infantino private equity plan

Senior FIFA adviser Carlos Cordeiro, who represented the soccer body on the White House Task Force for the World Cup, has resigned in protest at its private equity plan.

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Back in the day, UEFA always had a plan to activate a kind of World Cup replacement competition, should FIFA ever implode... apnews.com/uefa-led-pla...

UEFA-led plan for global soccer competition every 2 years

It could be the biggest-ever soccer competition, for 223 national teams, peaking with a series of eight-team knockout tournaments in June of every odd-numbered year.

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It all looks like the result of too long spent in the US president’s bubble of immunity, impunity and easy money. Maybe there are consequences. apnews.com/article/fifa...

European nations vow to boycott World Cup, other FIFA tournaments over Infantino private equity plan

UEFA member federations will boycott all FIFA competitions in protest of Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors.

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Does Zidane still have to serve a 2- or 3-game ban at the 2030 World Cup? Maybe FIFA can give him retroactive probation.

That last half-hour of the Tour de France was truly wonderful, epic sport. A huge assist to the Paris Olympics for making Montmartre unmissable.

What a hilarious game of football. Totally absurd and signifying nothing, but huge fun. Must have been the way Deschamps wanted to go.

ICE officer who shot Colombian man in Maine has history of threatening behavior and mental illness, family and court documents say.

AP Exclusive: ICE officer in Maine shooting has history of violent behavior, family and records say

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who shot a Colombian man in Maine this week is an Army veteran who has struggled with serious mental health issues since early childhood, according to close relatives who spoke to The Associated Press.

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In World Cup host nations, it’s usually after the tournament that public life returns to what it was before the first game. apnews.com/article/ice-...

ICE officer who fatally shot driver in Maine was 'fearing for public safety,' agency says

Sen. Angus King says the motorist killed by ICE officers in a Maine shooting was not the target of the warrant the officers were executing.

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FIFA statements on the World Cup ball sensor….

Peak popular culture in England was winning the 1966 World Cup days before The Beatles released “Revolver”. Winning a 2nd and then Count Binface beating Farage might run it close.

Infantino's dream of a Morocco-Argentina final is still alive. Egypt, astonishing, so impressive.

What joy for the IOC and 2028 LA Olympics officials. About 350 medal events involving Americans that might now be up for attempted 'review' because of FIFA giving up control.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · last mo.

Q: About the FIFA decision, what do you say to critics who say this starts a precedent which other powerful leaders---? TRUMP: I can only say this: I had nothing to do with the decision. I said, 'I think this should be reviewed.'

An update today on the FIFA-Balogun case that is no less insane and absurd than it was yesterday. apnews.com/article/balo...

UEFA says decision by FIFA to let U.S. forward play at World Cup is 'incomprehensible'

European soccer body UEFA criticized FIFA for an “incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision” to let United States forward Folarin Balogun play at the World Cup against Belgium on Monday despite a re...

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Blatter’s FIFA did not interfere with field of play integrity. Infantino’s FIFA, on the other hand: Messi/Miami into CWC, exceptional probation for Ronaldo, Balogun dodges 2-game ban. Stunning.

At the FIFA-MAGA World Cup, where the rule of law doesn’t mean as much as it once did. www.fifa.com/en/tournamen...

fifa.com

Goodbye and good riddance to Paraguay, hopefully to that ref as well. Paraguay next to be seen at the World Cup as a co-host in 2030. Why and how no one involved has ever bothered to explain properly.

Waking up to the utter joyless pursuit of VAR perfectibility when Croatia gained no advantage at all, denying the world what was looking an epic extra time at 2-2. Well done everyone.

A light read on what feels like the hottest-ever June day for more than a few of the World Cup nations.

JosimarFootball@josimarfootball.bsky.social · last mo.

Ny! New! Fifa president Gianni Infantino has clocked 50,000 km on a private jet during the World Cup group stages. By @samindrakunti.bsky.social josimarfootball.com/2026/06/28/i...

Show it to the police in Miami who currently don't seem to find the Tartan Army much fun to be around.

Only In Boston@onlyinbos.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Good afternoon from the Paul Revere statue. ❤️ 📸: @julia.rein4

The 0-0s have been compelling, much more fun than a 4-0 that was over by the first ad break.

Yikes. Most boxes of collective sports media doom ticked here.

But 2 of those 3 games on probation, yes? No? Just for Ronaldo?

Cristiano Ronaldo starts and captains Portugal against Congo next, thanks to a FIFA pardon in November for his red card in qualifying that, for mere mortals, would have been a 2-game ban. (Leveled out by a clear red card not shown to Lionel Messi last night?) apnews.com/article/worl...

Cristiano Ronaldo set to avoid ban at World Cup after FIFA red-card verdict offers probation

Cristiano Ronaldo will likely avoid missing any Portugal games at the World Cup despite his red card in a qualifying game last week for elbowing an Ireland opponent.

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