FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been chastised for making statements about African migrants drowning at sea while discussing football calendar adjustments.
The governing body of football in the world has proposed proposals that include hosting a World Cup every two years.
Infantino claims that more regular World Cups can help give some countries optimism, although his remarks have been criticized.
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“We need to give people opportunity and dignity,” Infantino remarked.
“Not by donating money, but by allowing the rest of the world to take part.” We need to give Africans hope so that they don’t feel compelled to cross the Mediterranean in search of a better life, but more likely death in the water.”
According to data acquired by the Missing Migrants Project, more than 23,000 people have gone missing as a result of attempting to cross the Mediterranean.
Infantino later clarified that his statements were “misinterpreted.” In a tweet posted by FIFA Media on Twitter, it read:
FIFA President Gianni Infantino: “Given that certain remarks made by me before the Council of Europe earlier today appear to have been misinterpreted and taken out of context, I wish to clarify that, in my speech, my more general message was that everyone in a decision-making position has a responsibility to help improve the situation of people around the world. “
“If there are more opportunities available, including in Africa, but certainly not limited to that continent, this should allow people to take these opportunities in their own countries.”
“This was a general comment, which was not directly related to the possibility of playing a FIFA World Cup every two years.”
“I’d like to explain that my more general message in my speech was that everyone in a position of decision-making has a responsibility to help better the situation of people around the world,” he said.
“My colleagues at Human Rights Watch interview refugees around the world pretty much every day,” Andrew Stroehlein, media director at Human Rights Watch, tweeted. The dates of World Cup tournaments are never mentioned.”
“Fifa is a multi-billion profit-making organization,” Kick It Out CEO Tony Burnett said in response to Infantino’s remarks. They already have the resources to invest in generating and inspiring opportunities for the world’s poor.
“It is also utterly wrong to claim that a biennial World Cup, which is primarily designed to increase Fifa’s earnings, could be a solution for migrants who risk their lives to seek a better life, sometimes leaving war-torn nations.”
Uefa, Europe’s major leagues, and Conmebol, the governing body of South American football, have all spoken out against a biennial World Cup, while Caf, Africa’s regulatory body, has backed it.
Switching the hosting of football’s largest international competition would earn £3.3 billion in more money during a four-year cycle, according to Fifa delegates.
