"Unacceptable": Infantino compared to Emperor Nero and strongly criticized
Players have unions looking out for them, and for good reason! When you hear that Gianni Infantino is being compared to the Roman Emperor Nero, it's worth taking a closer look. Sergio Marchi, head of FIFPRO, is sounding the alarm. He denounces FIFA's decisions: to make ever more money, at the expense of players' health. Among football fans, we often talk about spectacles and great performances, but what happens to the athletes behind these grandiose events?
According to Marchi, this is reminiscent of the "bread and circuses" tactic once employed by Emperor Nero in Rome. It's entertainment for the general public, but there's little protection left for the footballers. And it's true, when you hear that the new rules stipulate that players must be given 72 hours of rest between matches, it sounds just basic, right? Yet it does show that there's a problem. A jam-packed schedule, a glaring lack of physical and mental rest—this is what Sergio Marchi strongly deplores.
But FIFA, he says, is ignoring the unions' concerns. This organization of tournaments, without dialogue with the relevant partners, seems authoritarian and purely driven by profit maximization. This explains the frustration. But that's not all. Why so much misunderstanding? For many, the Club World Cup was not the resounding success touted by FIFA. Consider those players who almost went a full year without vacation. Let's take a moment to imagine the situation. Moreover, the weather conditions were not ideal: some matches were held in sweltering heat. A striking example? Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni, overcome by dizziness in the middle of the game against Bayern Munich, spoke of oppressive heat.
It's impossible, insists Marchi, for similar tournaments to take place under such conditions next year for the World Cup for national teams. It's a matter of health. Footballers are already under pressure. What was observed during this edition must under no circumstances be repeated. FIFPRO's message is clear: there is an urgent need to react before these prestigious events become a burden for the players, instead of a celebration of world sport.
L'Internaute
