Burnham says Infantino ‘wrong man’ to lead Fifa as Brits back World Cup boycott plans
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said Gianni Infantino is the “wrong man” to lead Fifa as Brits back Uefa plans to boycott the next World Cup.
The football-loving Prime Minister told reporters in Sheffield on Friday that Fifa’s plans to sell of stakes in the World Cup to private investors, spearheaded by Infantino, “was an outrageous suggestion”.
“The idea that it could even be brought forward shows that, in my view,” he added, “that the Fifa [president] is the wrong man to lead the organisation.”
And it appears that Burnham has the majority of the nation behind him, with polling showing that Brits overwhelmingly back Uefa calls to boycott the next World Cup over the plans.
The mooted changes to the ownership of the World Cup have received backlash from continental football organisations with Europe’s body Uefa promising to boycott the next World Cup over the mooted changes.
And YouGov polling suggests the majority of Brits back Uefa’s calls, with their latest data set putting that figure at 73 per cent, rising to 87 per cent among football fans.
Furthermore, seven in 10 Brits stated that they’re against the Fifa plans to sell off stakes to investors as a concept, again rising among football fans. Support for the plans sits at six per cent.
Burnham: Infantino wrong man for Fifa job
The home nations will host the next Uefa tournament, the European Championships, but will not see a Fifa tournament until the 2035 Women’s World Cup. Boycott proposals from Uefa could see the home nations block their own participation in the Women’s World Cup in Brazil next year and the next men’s tournament in 2030, which will be hosted by a mix of European, South American and African nations.
And any challenge to Infantino’s position could see a key Uefa figure take over. Powerful Qatari Nasser Al-Khelaifi is said to not be interested in ousting Infantino, but has been backed to do so by many.
Burnham follows the likes of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in calling for Infantino to go.