Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports

FIFA president Gianni Infantino makes urgent plea to players ahead of World Cup

Originally posted on BenchWarmers | Last updated 11/4/22

Gianni Infantino, the 52-year-old president of FIFA, has made an urgent plea with the teams and footballers at this years World Cup in Qatar. The Swiss-Italian president has urged the players to focus on just football and nothing else. The president sent out a letter to all the nations heading to the World Cup in Qatar this month.

“Please, let’s now focus on the football!

“We know football does not live in a vacuum and we are equally aware that there are many challenges and difficulties of a political nature all around the world.

“But please do not allow football to be dragged into every ideological or political battle that exists.”

This World Cup could be a shambles, time will tell..

"Please, let's now focus on the football!"

FIFA President Gianni Infantino & Secretary General Fatma Samoura write to World Cup teams amid pressure on them to be activists in Qatar @SkyNews exclusive details of the letter https://t.co/etOF4xnyaK

— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) November 3, 2022

Gianni Infantino continues to morph into Sepp Blatter. It’s not some "ideological or political battle" to want people to be treated with respect. It's about principles such as fairness and equality. World Cup players who stage protests in Qatar have every right – and duty – to.

— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) November 4, 2022