THE national associations -including the Football Association - who waved through Saudi Arabia's World Cup bid with barely a murmur of protest should be ashamed of themselves.
Actually, to term the Saudi proposals for the 2034 tournament as a 'bid' is misleading.
That would imply there was some sort of contest. There wasn't. This outcome has been inevitable since FIFA - led by its president Gianni Infantino - and Saudi power brokers started cosying up in the second half of the last decade.
Remember the opening game of Russia 2018 when the hosts defeated Saudi Arabia 5-0 in Moscow? Infantino was seated between Vladimir Putin and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, MBS to his mates.
He loves a powerful man, Gianni. Or 'Jonny' as Donald Trump seemed to call him when giving the FIFA overlord several name-checks in a video for the Club World Cup draw.
This story is from the December 12, 2024 edition of Daily Mirror UK.
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This story is from the December 12, 2024 edition of Daily Mirror UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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