Gianni Infantino: Between Selective Compassion and Double Standards — Football Must Not Be Used to Pressure Sovereign States
By Maamar Gani
It is no longer surprising that FIFA President Gianni Infantino continues a pattern of double standards that has stripped both him and world football’s governing body of much of their moral credibility in the eyes of free peoples.
In a new statement that adds to a growing record of diplomatic missteps, Infantino called for clemency for French journalist Christophe Gleizes, who has been sentenced by an Algerian court, arguing that such a measure would allow him to attend the FIFA World Cup.
This intervention is not merely a protocol error; it represents a striking example of selective advocacy. The same FIFA president who is now urging intervention in the internal affairs of a sovereign state has remained conspicuously silent regarding the plight of Palestinian journalists who have been killed, detained, or subjected to violations while carrying out their professional duties.
No public appeal has been issued on their behalf, nor has any statement been made calling for their protection or release.
Infantino: Where Are Your Principles?
Infantino’s memory appears to operate selectively, overlooking events that would have required a firm response had his humanitarian concerns been applied consistently.
The forgotten Palestinian issue: Where was Infantino when Palestinian journalists were killed under the rubble of their homes? Do their lives not warrant a call for protection, or even a public expression of concern from the head of FIFA?
The U.S. visa issue: Has Infantino not previously stated that he has no authority over the domestic affairs of the United States and cannot intervene in visa decisions? If that principle applies to one country, how can he now justify calling for clemency in a judicial matter that falls within the sovereign jurisdiction of another state?
This apparent contradiction raises questions about institutional consistency. If respect for national sovereignty and domestic legal processes was invoked in one context, the same principle should apply to the Algerian judicial system.
Keep Politics Out of Football
For years, Infantino has repeatedly urged political actors to keep politics separate from football. Yet that principle appears, according to critics, to be applied selectively.
When certain issues align with prevailing political narratives or the interests of influential stakeholders, politics seemingly becomes unavoidable. Such an approach risks undermining the neutrality that international sporting institutions are expected to uphold.
A Message to FIFA Headquarters in Zurich
Football, a sport that has the power to unite people across borders and cultures, cannot be governed through a logic of superiority or through attempts to impose pressure on sovereign nations.
If FIFA genuinely seeks to promote unity through sport, it should focus on addressing the challenges facing the global game itself, including governance concerns, integrity issues, and allegations of unequal treatment.
The role of FIFA’s leadership is to serve football, not to intervene in the judicial affairs of sovereign states.
Algeria, which maintains that its legal system operates independently and applies the law equally, is not subject to directives from international sporting bodies or their officials.
Football belongs to everyone. It should not become an instrument for political selectivity or a vehicle for overt bias.
Leave politics to political institutions and focus on what brings people together. Such an approach would better serve both football and FIFA, which many believe must undertake meaningful reforms to restore its moral compass and reinforce its commitment to fairness and consistency.
— 𝐄𝐍𝐃 —
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