Of course, if Infantino does manage to somehow bounce back from this disaster, at least we'll be able to forever refer to him as "Rubber Gianni"

NEW SEASON: www.sofpodcast.com/2026/08/soun... Season 18 of the Sound of Football starts with the chaos of the last week, and how it could, and should, change FIFA forever.

Sound of Football Podcast 663 - Gianni's downfall

Over the space of a week, Gianni Infantino has gone from cruising towards another uncontested term as FIFA president to the brink of being driven out

sofpodcast.com

NEW SEASON: www.sofpodcast.com/2026/08/soun... Season 18 of the Sound of Football starts with the chaos of the last week, and how it could, and should, change FIFA forever.

Sound of Football Podcast 663 - Gianni's downfall

Over the space of a week, Gianni Infantino has gone from cruising towards another uncontested term as FIFA president to the brink of being driven out

sofpodcast.com

COMING SOON: SEASON 18! Due to the VERY BIG NEWS from the past few days, we're coming back a week early to start the latest season of your favourite football podcast. S18E01 available tomorrow.

COMING SOON: SEASON 18! Due to the VERY BIG NEWS from the past few days, we're coming back a week early to start the latest season of your favourite football podcast. S18E01 available tomorrow.

FIFA’s plan to sell a stake in its commercial operations to outside investors is thankfully dead in the water, but what was behind this proposal? What would have been the implications for the beautiful game if Infantino had got his way? This is explored in today’s FREE ARTICLE.

WAFCON is on YouTube (the rumoured/announced Channel4 link up did not happen). Certainly no lack of effort and endevour. Quality is variable (to put it politely), but great fun nonetheless. Enjoying random ad breaks coming during important moments. Mali 🇲🇱 currently 2-1 up over Cabo Verde 🇨🇻

Tariq’s thread of the last four days in FIFA as it happened is a must read…

Tariq Panja@tariqpanja.bsky.social · last wk.

What a strange and angry post from the FIFA president. While preaching “love” he has come across extremely thin skinned and while at the same time attempted to downplay what has happened to Iran, fans denied visas, Omar Artan and the Balogun situations as normal. Like in a parallel universe.

Kevin Lamour’s responsibilities at FIFA include overseeing comms, finance, legal and compliance. If he’s saying people in FIFA have been deceived and intimidated there is no future for Infantino.

Graham Dunbar@gdunbarap.bsky.social · 5d ago

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...

Infantino has spent the last decade getting closer to some of the most despicable people. He's about to discover how they treat people they consider "losers"

Tariq Panja@tariqpanja.bsky.social · 5d ago

The conversation seems to still be geared around the scheme Infantino was trying to push. That ship has sailed. The real question now seems to be whether it is days, weeks or months for him in this job. It is a completely untenable situation now all these various actors are scurrying away from him

Fully expect CAF to issue their statement sometime in January

Philippe Auclair@philippeauclair.bsky.social · 5d ago

New AFC statement.

To think, this time last week Infantino was probably imagining life as Secretary General of the UN.

"the AFC considers this issue... has exposed fundamental weaknesses in FIFA’s consultation and decision-making processes that must now be addressed.... concerns surrounding governance, institutional process and meaningful consultation remain unanswered" Khalifa is going to run against Infantino

"Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports" Like his hero he's gone straight for "fake news". This statement is a direct attack on confederations: "Here's free money you can have if you vote for my scheme. Ignore your confederation. Vote for money"

Manuel Veth@manuelveth.bsky.social · 6d ago

Statements flying everywhere. Here is FIFA’s response posted at 8:15pm Pacific Time. “Nono we never wanted to sell the game.” “Hear us out. We were rushed by media reports.” This is the biggest trying to back off without backing off statement I have seen in some time.

All 55 members? Including Russia? Including Israel? Infantino is toast.

While FIFA competitions for UEFA teams may seem a way off they really aren't. England's women have World Cup play-offs in just two months. Next summer's tournament in Brazil has to be in doubt. The U20s Women's World Cup is scheduled to start in just five weeks, in Poland

How appropriate- a Lego FIFA World Cup on sale, everyone wants a piece

Someone call JR Hartley. I might have some good news for him

I am actually firmly in the belief that football governing bodies SHOULD have their regulatory and commercial operations divided into separate entities. But really not like this. If FIFA do it, every FA/Federation in the Global South will be eager to follow. Every corner of football will be sold.

The answer is very few. The reason FIFA gets away with stuff like this is because they look after their stakeholders. Would Adidas walk away? Certainly not. Any of their other preferred partners. Most unlikely.

Manuel Veth@manuelveth.bsky.social · last wk.

Genuine question: How many people outside our Blue Sky bubble will actually care about that FIFA announcement? In other words, resistance, what resistance?

The target area is only two meters wide. It's a small thermal exhaust port, right below the main port. The shaft leads directly to the reactor system.

Martin Calladine@uglygame.bsky.social · last mo.

Enact the Final Provisions. Dissolve Fifa.

Some lovely work here (which, of course, I will scrutinise and pick holes in later, for no better reason other than I can.)

Against League 3@againstleague3.bsky.social · last wk.

If everyone supported their local football club, which club would have the biggest supporter base? Who knows? Well I do, because I was bored and I worked it out. A thread on the question you've never asked but now want to know the answer to.

🌍 Here it comes! WAFCON is back, and if you're in the UK, Channel 4 are showing it. 📺 Otherwise, DAZN, CANAL+ etc. Read @dakotajohnson98.bsky.social's in-depth preview for @newwomenssportmag.bsky.social 👇 thenewwomenssportmagazine.com/bigger-bette...

BIGGER. BETTER. BACK. All you need to know about WAFCON 2026 - The New Women's Sport Magazine

So, you’ve heard that the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) is about to begin (finally), but you’re completely new to women’s football in Africa? Never fear, Dakota Johnson has done the research ...

thenewwomenssportmagazine.com

NEW PODCAST: www.sofpodcast.com/2026/07/soun... We complete our World Cup coverage by celebrating Spain's win against the pantomime villains of Argentine. We also take time to remember the great Kevin Keegan This is our 44th podcast of Season 17! We start Season 18 in three weeks time.

Sound of Football Podcast 662 - World Cup 2026: El mundial es de España

Spain are the World Champions, having seen off the previous champions Argentina without conceding a single shot on target in the final.

sofpodcast.com

See, I look at this and I can't help nerding out: "Those look like high school field goal posts" "Wow that pitch must be 120 yards long. Longest in the PL is 115." "That track must be far longer than 400m" "Do they have a short format of lacrosse?"

James Nalton@jdnalton.bsky.social · 2w ago

Good to see some proper American soccer fields again after those boring, bland World Cup pitches.

NEW PODCAST: www.sofpodcast.com/2026/07/soun... We complete our World Cup coverage by celebrating Spain's win against the pantomime villains of Argentine. We also take time to remember the great Kevin Keegan This is our 44th podcast of Season 17! We start Season 18 in three weeks time.

Sound of Football Podcast 662 - World Cup 2026: El mundial es de España

Spain are the World Champions, having seen off the previous champions Argentina without conceding a single shot on target in the final.

sofpodcast.com

As a kid in the 70s, I knew who Kevin Keegan was before I knew anything else about football. The first game I remember sitting down to watch on TV was England’s last qualifier for the 78 World Cup against Italy. The win wasn’t enough but it was very much a Keegan performance youtu.be/YDVGoEQoEJU

England 2-0 Italy (1977) WCQ

YouTube video by cestrian81

youtu.be

Time enough for another red card

Joe Hart saying this final has been about the goalkeepers. Unai Simon has faced 0 shots. On target or otherwise

Enzo Fernandez is so Chelsea