Despite Infantino’s own goal, football's finances need a revamp

Gianni Infantino faces a tense period of campaigning as he attempts to rebuild his fractured support before the upcoming Fifa presidential vote in March. Despite the most successful World Cup in history, with record-breaking revenue, Infantino's leadership is under scrutiny due to a series of smaller, insidious decisions over the summer.

These decisions have damaged the sense of fairness in the game and put his leadership under the microscope. FIFA's leniency towards Cristiano Ronaldo playing in group games, failing to secure a qualified referee for the US team, and allowing Folarin Balogun to play after receiving a red card, have all contributed to these issues.

Infantino's proposal to commercialize World Cup operations through private money has also faced backlash, leading to threats of boycotts. The financial needs of the sport extend beyond clubs, affecting international men's and women's football. The game has seen an Americanization trend, treating football primarily as entertainment rather than a competitive sport.

This shift has been driven by the desire to attract a wider audience, akin to the success of North American sports like the NFL and NBA. FIFA has borrowed elements from these sports, such as dynamic ticket pricing and TV product elements like halftime shows and hydration breaks. The most extreme example is the creation of a reality TV series for Welsh side Wrexham, starring Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds.

With Uefa, the European governing body, being both a subordinate and independent rival to FIFA, tensions are building towards an ugly struggle for power. Infantino, aware of this tension, has tried to maintain his influence by aligning himself with US President Donald Trump and his family.