THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN FIFA PRESIDENT GIANNI INFANTINO AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN - A SPORTS SOCIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION
THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN FIFA PRESIDENT GIANNI INFANTINO AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN - A SPORTS SOCIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION

Summary/Abstract: Since 2014, Gianni Infantino developed a special relationship with Russian president Vladimir Putin, although Infantino was aware of the violent actions attributed to Putin. In this relationship Infantino became friends with Putin and increasingly supported the Putin regime in its reprehensible activities. In return Infantino illegally received at least free flights on private jets belonging to individuals and entities controlled by the Kremlin. As UEFA general secretary Infantino left the Russian Football Union (RFU) unsanctioned when it seized three Ukrainian clubs in Russian-occupied Crimea from Ukraine in August 2014, even though RFU was due to be expelled from UEFA. As FIFA President Infantino intervened in 2017 to illegally keep Russian Deputy Prime Minister Mutko on the FIFA Council and unfairly fired Miguel Maduro, head of FIFA's Governance Committee after he declared Mutko ineligible. In 2018, FIFA led by Infantino sanctioned Croatian player Vida with a warning for saying "Glory to Ukraine" in a private video, but in 2019, after Infantino received the Order of Friendship from Putin and shouted "Glory to Russia", instead of being sanctioned like Vida, he was re-elected FIFA president "by acclamation". Although perceived worldwide as an ally of Putin, without ever condemning any reprehensible acts committed by Putin and without returning him the Order of Friendship, Infantino still remains at the head of FIFA, voted by all the presidents of the world's federations and associations, including by those from Ukraine, from all NATO countries and EU member states.

• Details
• Contents