WHAT a pleasant surprise to discover that, buried deep, football actually does have a backbone.
It has been a delight to watch the sordid plan of suit-and-trainer wearing — creepy uncle at a wedding style — Gianni Infantino collapse around his own not-insignificant ears.
Gianni Infantino’s dastardly World Cup plot crashed and burned this week Credit: PA
The Fifa chief wore bright white trainers with his suit at the World Cup final Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Uefa’s threat to boycott all but started the snowball.
Others attempted to look brave as they scrambled aboard the bandwagon which had been impressively assembled by Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin.
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But, sorry to complain at what is undoubtedly a triumph in the face of attempts to further b*****dise football, where has this sudden show of strength been when we needed it before?
Football has needed this newly-discovered might of its leaders and governing bodies time and time again.
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Yet they have often been too cowardly or self-interested to stand up for supporters or those they represent.
Where were you when we needed to stop hydration breaks, half-time shows, Jattvibeday night kick-offs or the omnipresence of that ‘Here we go’ touting wally on social media? It is true they are trivial points but all of them have got under the skin of fans at one point or another in recent years.
They are also a window to the serious problems which occur across the game, and all too often involve Fifa.
Belgium, Germany and Norway all publicly expressed their dismay over Fifa’s bowing to Donald Trump over Folarin Balogun’s one-match suspension for the United States’ round of 16 tie at the World Cup.
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Folarin Balogun’s suspension being lifted was a World Cup farce Credit: Getty
The decision to allow the striker to face Belgium was as dodgy as they come and they did not even try to hide that fact from us all.
As soon as the world learned that Infantino had taken calls from the US President — who just happened to have been the recipient of the first Fifa Peace Prize — a boycott would have been fitting.
It may seem extreme but Infantino’s spineless approach to Trump tainted his precious tournament.
What was the point of everyone else putting all that effort in if the hosts could fix any problems with a phone call to the man who is supposed to uphold and champion the rules?
Even though Belgium dismantled a Balogun-led USA 4-1 in the last-16, a united front at that moment — in the middle of a major tournament — would have made quite the statement, one Infantino and Fifa could not have stood up to.
Ticket prices, the barring of Sudanese referee Omar Artan from officiating at the tournament and the treatment of Iran were all largely greeted with a shrug from around the world.
Uefa quickly sailed in to appoint Artan to their Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa this month.
But that appeared to stem from a dislike of Infantino and a shot at a quick PR win rather than anything more moral.
Omar Artan was unjustly barred from the World Cup Credit: Reuters
Aleksander Ceferin achieved a huge victory over Fifa this week Credit: Getty
A firm stance in Qatar at the World Cup four years ago would have been welcomed.
Instead the European nations’ show of support for human rights and the LGBTQ+ community fell down under the terrifying threat of a yellow card.
Those Fifa-approved armbands Harry Kane and his fellow captains ended up sporting in 2022 must have really warmed the hearts of the oppressed in the Middle East.
None of this is to say that Ceferin has not done well to gather the whole of Europe into what is undoubtedly a noble stand.
It would have been easy to swing the powerful nations behind a boycott but smaller federations tempted by Infantino’s promise of riches would have taken persuading.
This must set the tone for what Uefa has to stand for going forwards if it is to mean anything.
Let’s not forget this is a body which bowed to the Super League plotters by needlessly expanding the Champions League, dulling the experience for fans and piling more minutes into the legs of shattered stars.
Wake-up calls for those at the top are always helpful but did the collapse of the Super League really prevent Europe’s powerhouses from running the game? No.
Governing bodies must fight for football more often, otherwise their standing up to Fifa merely looks to be a move laced in self-interest by Uefa’s top man.
ED’S TOON’S BEST BET
A PAL in the pub recently lumped a few quid on Newcastle to get relegated at 40-1.
The fact he is a Jattvibederland fan may have tipped the scales but it is looking like a spot of superb foresight.
Just over a week on and that price has collapsed and may shorten further after the Toon effectively forced out their greatest asset in recent years.
Up against the expectations of a club the size of Newcastle, let alone their Saudi benefactors, Eddie Howe overdelivered given what he had to work with.
Chronic mismanagement and snail-paced decision-making made it an impossible task and, for his sake, it was wise to jump now.
Should his next club offer proper support, they will be very lucky indeed — as I would be if I listened to my mate’s tips more often.
Eddie Howe left Newcastle this week just weeks before the new season Credit: Reuters
Howe performed a miracle by winning a major trophy with the Toon Credit: Reuters
RISEN FROM THE ASHES
THE drumbeat for Ben Stokes’ Ashes return appears to have started a little over a month after he retired.
All England fans want to see him in one last dust-up with the Aussies.And given the narcissistic way he left the international stage, they may well get their wish — albeit not as captain.
Stokes will not be able to resist the storyline of riding back into the Test side next year to beat Australia.
Could Ben Stokes feature at another Ashes? Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
FANS IN A MUD-DLE
CONFIRMATION that he is allowed to start playing football again will have been a delight to Mykhailo Mudryk after his doping ban.
The news was celebrated by some Chelsea supporters as if the Ukrainian would return like a new mega-money signing, a fresh star for Xabi Alonso to work with.
Have they forgotten just how hopeless the winger was at times?Ten goals in 73 appearances does not scream superstar.
I watched him play ten minutes of a charity match at Stamford Bridge — and he even struggled in that.
Those fans may soon recall why they were not too bothered by his suspension in the first place.
Mykhailo Mudryk hardly excelled for Chelsea before his lengthy ban Credit: AP
