PHOTO: Bildbyrån
On Saturday – the day before the World Cup kicked off – Fifa president Gianni Infantino gave a speech that attracted attention, to say the least.
What was said caused referee Jonas Eriksson to react strongly in SVT’s studio.
– It was distressing in every way, says Eriksson.
Last Sunday, the World Cup kicked off in Qatar when the host nation fell 0-2 against Ecuador. The day before, Fifa’s chairman had Gianni Infantino sat down at the podium and gave a speech. A speech that has since been much discussed and received with great criticism.
Attentive speech
Among other things, Infantino defended the championship in Qatar while criticizing how the media reports on the same.
– Today I feel Qatari. Today I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today I feel like a guest worker, he said, among other things, in the speech.
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That particular statement has been widely circulated since last Saturday, especially considering that Fifa at the same time does not allow rainbow colored armbands with the message “One Love”. Something like the Serie A professional and the national team player Albin Ekdal reacted to.
– The first thing I think is that it is strange that he (Infantino) does not understand any criticism. He says “I am gay” and two days later they remove the armband that is supposed to support LGBTQ rights. Double standards in their finest form, says Ekdal in SVT.
“Should put my foot down”
Someone who – among many others – reacted strongly to Infantino’s speech was the referee base Jonas Eriksson who acts as an expert in SVT during the world championship.
– It was confused, incoherent, incorrect and in many ways an image of a person who will lead football in the future that I do not want to lead, at least not in the direction I want football to be. Completely without responsibility, he pointed the finger at everyone, did not accept any responsibility – depressing in every way, says Eriksson.
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By the spring of 2023, the question will arise whether Gianni Infantino should be re-elected as chairman or not. Countries such as Germany and Norway have already announced that they do not intend to stand behind Infantino being re-elected – and Jonas Eriksson is now appealing to the Swedish Football Association to do the same.
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– Do we in Sweden want these people to lead in the future? Is this the person, with that foundation of values and communication, who will help us lead football in the future. I have great doubt about that, he says.
– I think the Swedish Football Association should put its foot down and say “We don’t support Infantino”. Even if there is no opposing candidate, we have marked and shown what we stand for. And it is more important to sleep well than to be in the right circles.