.CliveTyldesley has seen enough of those seemingly compulsory close-up shots of Gianni Infantino in the Qatar stands. The delusional FIFA president has won.
It’s the close-up of Gianni that gets me. Every time. I could almost buy into his alluring Arabian Nights if it wasn’t for that recurring image of his easy sense of entitlement. In those few crass, comedic seconds of obligatory TV recognition, you can nearly see his compulsory clause being inserted into the broadcast contract and hear the voice of David Conn explaining the grubby deal in the next Netflix documentary. There is Sig Infantino fiddling on his phone while football burns.
The fact that most of those stadiums will be downsized or dismantled once the credits have rolled is the defining one. The Lego version of the 974 Stadium will presumably be this year’s ungettable Christmas present. The stadium itself is just a load of blocks assembled snugly and temporarily together. It’s make-believe.
And perhaps that is fine for a fleeting global showpiece played once every four years. For most football fans, a World Cup will only ever be a television event; the spectators are mere extras to the main cast of this boxset. We’ve all read about the fake fans, we all know and probably understand the level of high-end corporate patronage.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Soccer analyst Grant Wahl dies at 48American soccer journalist Grant Wahl, known for his work at Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports and Fox Sports, has died, U.S. Soccer announced Friday. Wahl was covering the Argentina-Netherlands World Cup quarterfinal in Qatar when he collapsed.
Read more »
Patriots' Bill Belichick Has Excited Reaction to Brazil-Croatia World Cup EndingCroatia’s dramatic 2022 FIFA World Cup win over Brazil drew an excited reaction from Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, and even a smile, too!
Read more »
FIFA in 'legal disputes' with Qatar's World Cup organisers - relations turn sour after 'last-minute U-turn'According to reports, FIFA are 'embroiled in a series of legal disputes' with Qatar's World Cup organisers and relations are now at an 'all-time low'.
Read more »
ITV World Cup coverage has been lit up by the schoolboy enthusiasm of Ally McCoistAlly McCoist has lit up ITV coverage of the World Cup through the very simple method of actually sounding as though he's enjoying being there.
Read more »