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Buying "The Beautiful Game" - Billions and Billions pour in, but how dark is the money? Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

Soccer’s Shame - Infantino Fuels Sportswashing with more Saudi Cash

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Andy Hageman | Last updated Jun 15, 2025 4:17 PM ET

FIFA’s leadership reeks of greed, trading soccer’s heart for cash. Once, Sepp Blatter’s corruption scandals rocked the sport, culminating in his 2015 ousting after a U.S.-led investigation exposed rampant bribery. Now, Gianni Infantino’s reign mirrors Blatter’s, prioritizing money over players and principles.

Blatter’s exit followed decades of shady deals, with FIFA officials pocketing millions in bribes for World Cup bids per SkySports.com. Infantino, elected in 2016 to clean house, promised reform but delivered spectacle. His expanded Club World Cup, a 32-team, month-long cash grab, epitomizes this shift.

Sepp Blatter was ousted and replaced by Infantino but is he any better?

Funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund via a DAZN deal, the Club World Cup crams an already packed soccer calendar per USAToday.com. Players like Christian Pulisic have voiced exhaustion, with Premier League stars facing up to 80 matches a season. Infantino’s response? Dismissive shrugs, ignoring player welfare for for that all-important profit.

Ticket sales for the Club World Cup, hosted across the U.S., are sluggish, with some matches drawing under 20,000 fans per USAToday.com. Critics argue it’s a vanity project, bloating Infantino’s ego while straining athletes. The tournament’s $1 billion prize pool dazzles, but at what cost to the game and just how dark is that money?

Worse, Infantino’s FIFA has doubled down on controversial hosts. Qatar’s 2022 World Cup faced scrutiny for migrant worker deaths, over 6,500 reported by human rights groups per TheGuardian.com. Saudi Arabia’s 2034 bid, rubber-stamped in December 2024, ignores similar human rights abuses, fueling sportswashing accusations per Amnesty.org.

Sportswashing thrives under Infantino. Saudi Arabia’s $2 trillion sovereign wealth fund bankrolls global sports to polish its image, and FIFA’s complicity raises eyebrows. Infantino’s cozy ties with Saudi leaders echo Blatter’s deal-making, prioritizing dollars over ethics according to TheTimes.com.

Players aren’t the only ones suffering. Fans feel alienated by FIFA’s money-driven decisions, with 60% of surveyed supporters opposing the 2034 World Cup host (YouGov.com). Yet Infantino barrels forward, unfazed by criticism or low ticket sales forcing discounts.

Sportswashing is alive and kicking under Infantino.

The parallels between Blatter and Infantino are becoming stark. Both wielded FIFA’s power to chase wealth, sidelining the sport’s essence. Blatter fell to legal accountability; will Infantino’s unchecked ambition be next?

Soccer deserves better. The Club World Cup’s bloated format and Saudi’s 2034 hosting reflect a leadership obsessed with cash, not competition. Infantino’s legacy risks mirroring Blatter’s, a cautionary tale of greed eclipsing the beautiful game.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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