‘The Emperor Is Naked’ –UEFA President Unleashes Blistering Attack On Infantino

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has launched a blistering, high-profile attack on FIFA President Gianni Infantino, invoking Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale The Emperor’s New Clothes to criticize his leadership.

Speaking at the European Football Clubs (EFC) General Assembly, Čeferin took direct aim at Infantino’s governance.

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The scathing remarks stem directly from FIFA’s controversial, and ultimately abandoned, plan to sell a 20% stake in its commercial rights (including the World Cup) to private investors.

Čeferin heavily criticized the language used by FIFA to defend the proposal, arguing that “selling part of football’s future does not become development because you say it’s development,” and that secrecy does not equate to true consultation.

“Almost 200 years ago, he wrote The Emperor’s New Clothes,” Ceferin said.

“We ‌all know the story. An emperor is persuaded that he is ‌wearing magnificent clothes, clothes which he is told only the foolish or unfit cannot see. His court goes along with it until a child simply says aloud what everybody can see. ‌The emperor is naked.”

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“Perhaps the moral of the story is convenient words cannot change uncomfortable realities. Now world football has heard some very convenient words recently. Development, democratisation, consultation, words used in fact to describe the opposite.

“Selling part of ‌football’s future does not become development because you say it’s development. Putting a fait accompli in front of national associations does not mean democratisation, even if you call it democratisation. However big the check is. And secrecy does not become consultation because you call it consultation.”

Austin Akhilomen is a passionate sports content writer with a strong interest in football. He is a fan of the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Chelsea, and he enjoys following the teams, players, and competitions that make the sport exciting. Austin writes sports news, match reports, and football content to keep readers informed about the latest developments in the sporting world. His passion for sports also drives his aim to promote the game and connect football fans across the globe. Through his work with Complete Sports, Austin shares engaging sports content with readers and brings his love for football into every story he writes.