Gianni Infantino’s massive carbon footprint mysteriously came to a halt this weekend.
Last week, Indoor sports revealed how the FIFA president had racked up the air miles at a dizzying pace as he continued to try to save his job in the wake of the World Cup sell-out scandal.
Infantino was scheduled to gather with U.S. senators and Wall Street billionaires Friday evening at a Milken Institute event in the Hamptons, outside New York.
But his Qatari-funded private jet remained on the tarmac in Doha, where he has a home, after he canceled plans to speak at the exclusive meeting.
Gianno Infantino has fought to save his job following the World Cup sell-out scandal
UEFA filed court papers in several US states the day before, seeking documents it said could support a prosecution for criminal mismanagement in Switzerland over Infantino’s failed plot to cash in on World Cup stakes.
Mystery also surrounds the plane’s movements earlier this week. On Tuesday, the plane flew from Paris, where Infantino had attended the Esports World Cup, to Mallorca for a few hours and then to Pisa for about seven hours before being transported to Hanoi for the ASEAN Cup final.
While Indoor sports While I don’t want to make any assumptions, it is interesting to note that Josh Kushner, the brother of President Donald Trump’s son-in-law who is heavily involved in the scandal, has vacationed there in the past.
…while the Olympic Movement despairs over its sell-out plan
Qatar appears to be walking a fine line, balancing support for Infantino with an attempt to curry favor with the IOC to host the 2036 Olympics. That said, most of the Olympic world is not opposed to the idea of selling stakes in competitions to private equity firms because, unlike FIFA, other international federations need the money. However, within the Olympic Movement there is uniform disapproval of the lack of transparency and governance in the way Infantino introduced the plan.
Football unites to pay tribute to fallen officers
Tributes were paid to the two police officers who died in Middlesbrough during Premier League matches on Sunday.
Leeds v Brentford match officials wore back armbands with referee Tony Harrington, a friend of PC Matthew Blades, who died along with PC Tom Clough when their vehicle was hit by a car traveling the wrong way. Above the Pennines at Old Trafford, the two PC Blades children were mascots at Manchester United’s match against Ipswich Town.
PC Blades was an avid United supporter. Meanwhile, United unveiled a platform at their ground on Friday in tribute to Chas Banks MBE, the former secretary of the club’s disabled supporters’ association who died in 2024. Banks was a powerful voice for those who often needed one, and the platform – in the Stretford End – is a fitting tribute.
All eyes on Margot and Bradley
As the great and good of European football descended on Monaco last week for the Champions League draw, many eyes in the principality were focused elsewhere. Hollywood giants Bradley Cooper and Margot Robbie were in town to shoot scenes for an Ocean’s Eleven prequel.
Part of the story is set against the backdrop of the 1962 Grand Prix, where the famous circuit was taken back 60 years thanks to the arrival of replica vintage cars from that era.
Margot Robbie is filming a prequel to Ocean’s Eleven with Bradley Cooper
The cricket communications chief leaves a year before Ashes
Eyebrows have been raised at the recent departure of Danny Reuben, head of communications for the popular England men’s cricket team, after ten years in the role. Inside Sport previously reported that the Yorkshireman has admirers within the Australian set-up. One to keep an eye on ahead of the next Ashes.
Trapeze-y does it because UEFA keeps costs low
The traditional after-draw party usually involves opening the roof of the Monte-Carlo Sporting center so that guests from the continent’s elite can enjoy a cost-saving light show.
This year, however, the roof remained closed and a pair of trapeze artists dressed as human disco balls provided the main entertainment at the UEFA event.
Some wondered, with FIFA under fire for its apparent obsession with money, whether its European rivals had deliberately played down this.
