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Matt Cooper: Infantino’s accession proves the maxim ‘be careful what you wish for’

The football world wanted Sepp Blatter out, but he has been replaced by an even more powerful autocrat with a speciality in gaslighting

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani gives a bisht to Lionel Messi of Argentina and Fifa president Gianni Infantino during the World Cup Qatar 2022 final match between Argentina and France. Picture: Getty

Fifa was meant to be better without Sepp Blatter as president. But, incredibly, Giovanni Infantino, his successor at the helm of world football, may actually be worse. That’s quite the achievement.

The nadir of Infantino’s performance at the 2022 World Cup came during the presentation of the trophy to Lionel Messi, Argentina’s captain. As almost the whole world saw at the time or have seen since, Infantino smilingly assisted the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin ...