{"id":615758,"date":"2025-12-06T10:48:19","date_gmt":"2025-12-06T10:48:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/615758\/"},"modified":"2025-12-06T10:48:19","modified_gmt":"2025-12-06T10:48:19","slug":"fifa-a-complete-disgrace-as-gianni-infantino-donald-trump-love-in-forces-world-cup-boycotts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/615758\/","title":{"rendered":"FIFA a ‘complete disgrace’ as Gianni Infantino, Donald Trump love-in forces World Cup boycotts"},"content":{"rendered":"

FIFA and Gianni Infantino are forcing World Cup boycotts and can get in the bin after the Donald Trump love-in.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, \u2018spineless\u2019 Manchester United and their \u2018spineless\u2019 owner need to get rid of Ruben Amorim. and Liverpool are counting the cost of Luis Diaz\u2019s departure.<\/p>\n

Send your thoughts on anything and everything to theeditor@football365.com<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

FIFA can go f*** themselves<\/strong>
We all knew this was going to happen, but seeing some of this on the TV is just fucking disgusting. How can a supposedly apolitical organisation behave this way and get away with it?<\/p>\n

There is nothing that the average football fan can do about it, because Infantino will get reelected regardless of his arse licking because he has figured out how to milk money from the despot lead dictatorships, which finds its way to the countries (and individuals) who cast the votes for FIFA President.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s corruption, in real time, live on TV, and there is fuck all we can do about it.<\/p>\n

I for one am going to boycott anything FIFA related until this lickspittle is gone. I want England (and Canada, as I am now a citizen here too) to do well and I\u2019ll read reports but I\u2019m not paying anything to anyone associated with them or any broadcasters. I am not sure who the sponsors are but I\u2019ll boycott and\/or move my custom from them (one is normally Budweiser, and I wouldn\u2019t drink that piss anyway).<\/p>\n

This is a complete disgrace. I should be shocked, but I\u2019m not. I\u2019m just so fucking angry.
A, LFC, Montreal<\/strong><\/p>\n

READ MORE: Infantino pledges football\u2019s unswerving support to Trump \u2013 not in our f*cking name<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018Bun FIFA\u2019<\/strong>
Dear Editor,<\/p>\n

Being old-ish, 50 this year, I have seen some real smug dick moves in my life. \u00a0These include religious fanatics suggesting a lack of praying caused my sister\u2019s cancer (she is fine now), Piers Morgan and Mailbox Stewie<\/p>\n

But the icing on the proverbial c@nty-cake has just been applied by FIFA\u2019s very own, king of smug, Infantino. \u00a0\u00a0In a epically imaginative money shot ending months of tantric stimulation of The Trump, the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize has been awarded. \u00a0To DT himself.<\/p>\n

Now, I have no desire to dive into Trump\u2019s credibility in earning a peace prize, only FIFA\u2019s credibility in awarding one.<\/p>\n

If football wasn\u2019t sickening enough, we have reached peak. \u00a0\u00a0I can\u2019t see any way back. \u00a0The gulf between fans, clubs, players and the management is cemented. \u00a0They officially have nothing to do with football anymore, beyond milking it for cash. Surely we can do a crowd-funded alternative. \u00a0This is a self-anointed organised that only exists because domestic leagues subscribe to them.<\/p>\n

Some people will call me racist because I lay the blame at Infantino who identifies as a minority economic migrant, but I think it\u2019s time someone said what we are all thinking. \u00a0And I\u2019ll put it in the words of my son: \u2018bun FIFA\u2019. \u00a0And he is right.
Alexander<\/strong><\/p>\n

READ MORE: 2026 World Cup draw: England and Scotland learn fate in celebration of football, Trump<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

World Cup boycott<\/strong>
Probably gonna start boycotting the World Cup now. Freaking bummer.
Jess (Tampa Florida)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Scotland draw<\/strong>
The last time Scotland played in the World Cup was 1998. I have fond memories, even if we did lose to Morocco and Brazil. Anyway, can\u2019t wait for 2026 and Scotland\u2019s games against\u2026oh balls.
Mike, LFC, Dubai<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

AmorimOut# of \u2018spineless\u2019 Man Utd<\/strong>
The last time United were a dominant and successful side was under Sir Alex. This isn\u2019t news.<\/p>\n

Yes there have been some periods since when things looked brighter but none of them stuck, either because the manager wasn\u2019t actually suited or the guys in the ties thought they could get someone better before the work was finished. (Has any club sacked a manager right after winning a trophy, let alone twice?)<\/p>\n

But the point is, there is a model and profile for a successful United, for the United way. Would it be so crazy to try and recruit against that archetype?<\/p>\n

When Liverpool sought to replace Klopp they cast aside unsuitable options that were different and went with similar in Slot, and \u2013 setting aside the question of whether he can have the time to rebuild an aging Liverpool \u2013 got another league title out of it. Why? Because at the very least he didn\u2019t rip up the entire team first. Wholesale change is a stupid plan, it throws out a decade of planning and youth recruitment. Evolution not revolution.<\/p>\n

So, what is the Sir Alex profile? In my very humble opinion, it is four fold.<\/p>\n

First, a focus on attack with numbers, width and pace. Second, develop and support players through the academy or at least at a stage of development where they can be moulded into suitable players who understand the club. Third, fill gaps with quality and add cover to rotate where they can\u2019t be filled by academy players. Fourth, adapt to the game \u2013 both within matches and the overall changes to trends in play \u2013 and to the players available.<\/p>\n

Instead United have a guy who does literally none of the above, while also throwing his players under the bus. Like a Wish version of Jose but without the results. He is the anti-Fergie in every single way. No amount of time or money will change the trajectory under his \u201cguidance\u201d. You think signing Anderson and Wharton sees Bruno dropped or moved back to 10\u2026? Former jewel in the crown and nailed on #6 for England and United can\u2019t get a kick, but two guys he beat to a call up will? Interesting\u2026<\/p>\n

But I don\u2019t blame him. He didn\u2019t want the job and is fundamentally unsuited to it, having only ever known small clubs in a 3 team league (and still managed to come 4th lol). The blame lies squarely with Sir Rat, who in his ego ignored the advice of his own experts and now finds his balls too shrivelled to act while the member of the 115 club that encouraged this move sits on his brown envelopes next to him. I guess it\u2019s easier to sack tea ladies.<\/p>\n

Spineless owner. Spineless manager. Spineless captain. Result, a spineless team. Good luck with that.
(A tired and irritated old) Badwolf (appears)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Luis Diaz-less Liverpool<\/strong>
On one of the podcasts I listen had a listener question sent in \u00a0regarding how awful most pundits predictions for this season have been. Barry Glendenning partially responded by saying he doubts any of the listeners would have got it right either, which I thought completely misses the point that being professionals, as in getting paid to pontificate on all things football, the bar should be set higher. But it\u2019s funny how for most football pundits, what they say really doesn\u2019t matter. The flip and flop on topics weekly.<\/p>\n

Which brings me to the main point which is that it is the less well known \u2018analysts\u2019 that do a much better job at not just showing what is happening to a team but also communicating it better.<\/p>\n

Case in point was a recent video by Adam Cleary on Liverpool. His main point was that Liverpool are desperately missing Luiz Diaz. He showed how well Liverpool pressed and counter-pressed with Diaz last season. Often the trigger. Both Diaz and Szobozslai together coordinated the press which gave Liverpool control of the game. It makes sense, as while Liverpool are continuing to create chances, more than their opponents in most games, they are regularly losing control of midfield \u2013 leading to goal scoring opportunities. It\u2019s easy to blame the defence and this backs up Slot\u2019s point that defence is a team effort. Adam\u2019s analysis even fits the eye test. Watching the Sunderland match you could see how Liverpool seemed so disorganized when attempting to counter press. Gakpo, while he might track back better than Salah, just never seems to inject any pace or close down opponents quickly enough. Wirtz is still learning the system but has been used in so many different areas, would be hard to nail it down. Diaz is a ball of energy. Always willing to run at opponents with or without the ball. Even Nunez would run down opponents. And it also showed why moving \u00a0Szoboslai anywhere else is only going to make Liverpool worse.<\/p>\n

It surprises me we haven\u2019t seen Ekitike used on the left in place of Gakpo, as he looks more willing and capable.<\/p>\n

But it does strike me that they should have tried harder to retain Diaz than they did.<\/p>\n

But back to the podcast and there was one funny line. When discussing Salah, one of them said \u201cit\u2019s not often you would hear, Afcon can\u2019t come soon enough!\u201d
Paul McDevitt<\/strong><\/p>\n

READ MORE: No Salah, Gakpo in the Liverpool XI to be picked by Glasner if he replaces Slot this season<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The \u2018worst\u2019 Liverpool exposing \u2018rubbish\u2019 Premier League<\/strong>
Sorry to Rich, AFC and Garry Vance but you\u2019re desperately trying to find bitterness in my email where there\u2019s none at all. Perhaps reflects your own insecurities about your own teams. Or some weird desperation for validation from strangers on the internet? You\u2019re not the only ones don\u2019t worry chaps.<\/p>\n

Here is the point; Liverpool are awful. Negative goal difference should help that statement past the statistical test. If you need other metrics how about losing 9 of the last 12 games\u2026I have a load of statistics but those alone are fairly damning ones.<\/p>\n

A team so bad that it\u2019s being beaten regularly and outscored should not be near the top 4. The top 4 used to be a measure of quality; look at how good the Spurs and Everton teams were that broke in the seasons Liverpool finished outside during the old school big 4 times. It\u2019s not nostalgia they were genuinely excellent teams.<\/p>\n

So if this variant of Liverpool, as bad on paper and on the eye as they are is near the top 4 the only conclusion is that every other teams in the league must be rubbish or hilariously inconsistent. Take it as a slight on your team because of course all narrative is biased in modern media but there\u2019s unfortunately a kernel of truth in it that should pass the smell test for everyone.<\/p>\n

This is the worst Liverpool team in a decade, the worst Man City in a decade, Chelsea are still trying to work out how they spent \u00a31bn on a champions league winning side and managed to make them worse. Spurs are nowhere near their peak sides post Bale and Kane. Man Utd, don\u2019t even. Are Villa the only big team that look better this season than last? They\u2019re coming from a lower base though.<\/p>\n

So with all that in mind it\u2019s reasonable enough to conclude the league is of a low standard. More fun for neutrals? Sure. Arsenal to romp to the title unimpeded? Yes and no shame in that. They didn\u2019t make everyone else shit. But it\u2019s no use pretending they\u2019re going toe to toe with a Klopp Liverpool or Pep Man City to win the thing. They could probably even stop tactical fouling and faking injuries and still win the league with a month to spare. Why risk it though when the football is so fun to watch.
Minty, LFC<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Man Utd Cleared Deadwood XI<\/strong>
Challenge accepted from Nic in yesterday\u2019s mailbox to develop a \u201cCleared Deadwood XI\u201d for Man Utd.<\/p>\n

Going with a back 4, because I\u2019m not Amorim and married to a specific formation.<\/p>\n

GK \u2013 David de Gea (comfortably beats out Andre Onana)<\/p>\n

RB \u2013 Aaron Wan-Bissaka
CB \u2013 Victor Lindelof
CB \u2013 Axel Tuanzebe (? \u2013 struggling to think of another CB who was cleared out)
LB \u2013 Alvaro\u00a0Carreras<\/p>\n

CM \u2013 Scott McTominay
CM \u2013 James Garner<\/p>\n

RW \u2013 Antony
LW \u2013 Marcus Rashford<\/p>\n

ST \u2013 Mason Greenwood
ST \u2013 Cristiano Ronaldo<\/p>\n

Subs:
Dean Henderson
Willy Kambwala (only other defender I can think of)
Fred
Jadon \u201cfreedom fighter\u201d Sancho
Alejandro Garnacho
Romelu Lukaku
Rasmus Hojlund
Anthony Elanga
Paul Pogba
Christian Eriksen<\/p>\n

Weak at CB, but otherwise can easily see this team beating the current United side.
Jim (Vancouver)<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"FIFA and Gianni Infantino are forcing World Cup boycotts and can get in the bin after the Donald…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":615759,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[163,23163,12,26],"class_list":{"0":"post-615758","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world","8":"tag-front-page","9":"tag-mailbox","10":"tag-news","11":"tag-world"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115672232974580838","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/615758","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=615758"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/615758\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/615759"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=615758"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=615758"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=615758"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}