In the jest and joust of this small act of ancient mockery, a connection flowed forward a mere 3½ centuries, to 2010 at the World Cup in South Africa. He was already concerned about the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and, as he said, about the cash-soaked Fifa presided over by Sepp Blatter. This week’s bloody events in Mexico brought anxiety from Fifa regarding certain cities’ ability to host matches at the World Cup. Gianni Infantino, the Fifa president but hardly a football man. Gianni Infantino not annoying Vladimir Putin at the 2018 World Cup.

Source: The Irish Times February 28, 2026 15:01 UTC