The Main Media Centre is where a press conference is being held by the President of the Federation of International Football Associations. The credit is iu Lu/VCG.
On the eve of a signature sporting event, athletic administrators often address the media as a sort of "state-of-the-union" affair to address a league's accomplishments and concerns. Before the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, the NBA and the NFL will speak to the press, and either give direct answers or spin as they please. It is an almost ceremonial activity.
The media needs to be mollified before the big games start.
Infantino offered a new twist on the ritual. Infantino gave an extraordinary speech, full of grievances about media examination of the host country's human rights record, whataboutism, and what can be described as an awkward attempt to compare his personal background to disenfranchised populations. His comments were offensive.
Infantino confused examination with provocation. The speech was labeled an "explosive rant." The negative reaction to Infantino's press conference shined more light on the problems surrounding this World Cup, and undermined his plea to keep the focus on football.
Infantino scored an own goal for his country.
Infantino said at the beginning of his address that he felt like he was in a foreign land. I feel like I'm in Arabia. I feel like a black person today. I feel like a homosexual today. I don't feel well today. I felt like a migrant worker today.
I am not gay, I am not African, and I am not disabled. I know what it's like to be discriminated against in a foreign country. I was bullied when I was a child because I was red-haired and Italian.
Infantino moved to Switzerland when he was a child. He felt like a migrant worker. Infantino made millions of dollars in 2019.
What are you going to do next? Infantino made a statement. You try to get to know people. You start engaging if you don't start fighting. This is what we should be doing
There is a 22-year-old star who could make Team USA a World Cup contender.
Infantino suggested that Western countries weren't in a position to criticize Qatar because of their poor human rights record.
Infantino said they have told many lessons from the west. I think it's time for Europeans to apologize for what they've been doing for the last 3000 years.
Every nation is not flawless. Infantino seems to forget that he is the leader of an organization that was involved in a bribery scandal when it awarded the World Cup toQatar. Infantino was not the head of the sport's governing body. Poor working conditions have been a factor in the deaths of thousands of migrant workers. It was decided that the World Cup would be held in the Middle East. There are more questions than there are answers. It's hypocritical for Infantino to suggest that criticism ofQatar is just hypocrisy.
Infantino looked to the disabled to make his point. Infantino said that he was at an event a few days ago when they explained what they were doing at the World Cup. There were 400 journalists at his press conference, but only four at the event. One billion disabled people are in the world. There are one billion people with disabilities. Nobody pays much attention.
Infantino blamed the organization for not earning anything. He said it was hard to read all the critics. The press was lectured on how to do their jobs. Infantino said that if you want to criticize someone, don't criticize the players. Don't put pressure on the players. Let them focus on their fans.
His words were quickly condemned. Nicholas said Infantino's speech was "crass." In brushing aside legitimate human rights criticisms, Infantino is dismissing the enormous price paid by migrant workers to make his flagship tournament possible, and he is also responsible for it. Demands for equality, dignity and compensation are universal human rights and can't be compared to a culture war.
Infantino said that a legacy fund would be set up. This can't be merely window dressing. If this tournament is to be salvaged, it must be announced that a significant portion of the $6 billion the organization will make from it will be used to compensate workers and their families.
Infantino had a poor performance before the World Cup, so let's hope his actions after it improve.
There is a complete guide to the US national team at the world cup.
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