Oviri Kelvin, Sports Editor, Abuja
FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, lamented the organisation’s inability over the years, to develop the global sport through ideas, discussions and innovations to evolve it to meet the challenges of the model era.
Infantino made the statement at the 46th UEFA Congress in Vienna on Wednesday where he praised UEFA President and the European football’s governing body for the Innovations, ideas and constructive discussions to develop European football.
FIFA President acknowledged that football is a global unifying factor and together both football institutions, FIFA and UEFA, can do great things to move football to a greater horizon.
According to the football’s number one citizen, his predecessors missed it in the past to have neglected the aspect of refining, restructuring and formulating innovative ideas to redefine the most widely participated global sport.
“Football unites. I’m sure that all of us here together, united, we can bring European and global football forward and we can also make our little contribution to society,” FIFA said in Vienna.
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“This is an opportunity that – I say this as FIFA President – probably, FIFA missed in the past decades and that we’re trying, of course, not to miss anymore by thinking about how we can make football better.
“I would like to thank, in addition to congratulating, UEFA and the UEFA President for the constant discussion, dialogue, constructively trying to reach solutions which will help world football, will protect, not only protect but develop and boost further European and global football,” Infantino added.
Proceeding with his conversations, FIFA President praised the host nation of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, stressing that it is a global tournament to celebrate unity.
He continued: “a celebration of unity as well, of bringing the world together” as well as a “truly unique” World Cup.
“It is important to underline the progress which has been made in terms of human rights, in terms of workers’ rights with the abolishment of the kafala system, with the minimum wages for workers with measures to protect the health of workers,
“This progress is undeniable, it is excellent, it’s going in the right direction,” Infantino conceded.
FIFA President appealed to the government to ensure they practically operate on the new legislation.
He said, “I can assure you that were are there – I was personally there as well – calling and appealing to the authorities, to the Minister of Labour, to the government to not only have implemented this new legislation but also to effectively and efficiently enforce it.”
He pointed to recent record-breaking attendances at women’s football matches in Spain and France, describing them as “definitely a great, great sign for the future.”
Repeating his appeal for peace in Ukraine, Gianni Infantino said that football cannot solve the world’s problems – but that it can help.
“We need peace, and when peace will come, football has to be there and will be there at the forefront, to bring again this unity and togetherness, to bring the people again together: the boys and the girls, the young and the old, because that’s what football does,” he said.
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