Jamie Carragher's sarcastic response to FIFA's recent announcement regarding Gianni Infantino's future as World Football's president drew far more support than the organisation's original post.
The 56-year-old has faced waves of criticism recently following a cagey World Cup in North America, along with controversial plans for the tournament's future. Just last week, Infantino announced proposals dubbed the FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would have seen stakes in the World Cup sold off to private investors had it been successful. Instead, the idea was stopped dead in its tracks almost immediately.
Not only did football fans worldwide revolt at the suggestion of further monetising what is supposed to be football's most prestigious tournament, but UEFA threatened to boycott the World Cup entirely from an ethical standpoint. As a result, FIFA quickly put the plans on the backburner, with Infantino describing them as a consultatory process.
Infantino then issued a statement on the matter, saying:
"The FIFA Forward Enterprise project was intended to provide a basis for further strengthening our FIFA Member Associations and our sport worldwide, especially in those countries where support is most needed. "And more so, as we said from the outset, to do this only if a majority of the FIFA Member Associations were in support and always subject to a consultation process with them, the FIFA Council, the Confederations and wider stakeholders. "Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place. Our purpose has always been - and will always be - to unite and improve. "As a result, this proposal will not proceed. Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support."
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However, shelving the plans has not stopped Infantino facing calls for his job at the helm of World Football, with an emergency leadership meeting taking place in Rabat on Wednesday to discuss the situation.
Following talks, FIFA announced that their management board had retained their confidence in Infantino.
The organisation said in a statement:
"FIFA leadership holds constructive and positive meeting in Rabat, Morocco. The FIFA Secretary General and members of the FIFA Management Board in attendance reaffirmed their full support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, as the only official elected by the 211 FIFA Member Associations. "In turn, the FIFA President reiterated his full support for the FIFA Secretary General and the FIFA Administration for their necessary and outstanding work in the delivery of his vision."
Liverpool legend Carragher, who has since moved into the world of football punditry, was less than impressed by the wording, taking to X to share a GIF of Sepp Blatter famously having money thrown at him by Simon Brodkin in 2015.
That gesture came in response to a series of allegations of corruption, before Blatter was handed an eight-year ban by FIFA's ethics committee for signing a contract described as 'unfavourable' to World Football, as well as making a 'disloyal payment' to UEFA's Michel Platini.
Social media users were quick to back Carragher's quip, with his comment receiving more than 7,200 likes to FIFA's 995 at the time of writing.
Carragher has also been highly critical of FIFA's leadership over the years, having spoken about a recent World Cup initiative he says he was pressured into supporting.
Speaking on the Football Ramble podcast, Carragher said:
"I had a little chat with Arsene Wenger. He was getting involved with FIFA and it was all around this World Cup being every two years. He said, 'I'd like you to come on this other call with other ex-players and we're going to chat about the ideas going forward.' I'm like, 'Brilliant, amazing'. "We get on this Zoom and it wasn't just English players. It was like [Javier] Mascherano, there were foreign players from all over the world. They're basically talking about the pros of a World Cup every two years. I'm just listening, asking questions. I don't like the idea. "We finish this Zoom. I haven't said whether I don't like it or it shouldn't happen, I'm just chatting with these ex players. And the guy who was organising the Zoom, then text me and said, 'Okay, can you put this out?' - like supporting it. I was like, 'No, no, no.' "Just because I came on the Zoom...I don't agree with and I don't want it. I think it's rubbish. This feeling of, 'Once you're in here with us and you're on this Zoom, we're all these ex-players and we're in.. "That was my insight into it with Wenger and Infantino above him, with getting all these ex players in and like, 'This makes us look okay.' Half of these ex players, they don't care. From that, I was like, 'I'm not having this at all.'"
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For context, this row comes after a run of backlash around Infantino's World Cup investment plans. Related coverage has tracked the pressure building on the FIFA president, including Gianni Infantino faces FIFA revolt over World Cup plot, Gianni Infantino salary revealed as FIFA World Cup sale plan sparks backlash, UEFA leaves Gianni Infantino facing FIFA power crisis over World Cup plan and Gianni Infantino explains why FIFA scrapped controversial World Cup sale plan.
