Infantino tries to calm storm
GIANNI INFANTINO has dismissed the controversy surrounding the decision to replace several senior figures in charge of FIFA’s independent committees as “a storm in a teacup”.
The FIFA president also restated his belief – first voiced a year ago – that the corruption crisis at world football’s governing body is over. The build-up to yesterday’s 67th FIFA Congress in Bahrain was dominated by criticism of the Infantino-led move to replace chief ethics investigator Cornel Borbely, ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert and governance chairman Professor Miguel Maduro.
Borbely and Eckert responded to their sudden exits by claiming they were ousted for political reasons and said their removal will set back hundreds of outstanding corruption cases.
But Infantino said: “This is a simple question of procedure and decisions made by congress. I don’t think we should make a tragedy out of this.” PAUL LAMBERT’S future as Wolves boss was in the balance last night. Lambert, left, could quit the Championship club unless he gets assurances he will have control of transfer deals. The Scot is concerned about the influence of ‘super agent’ Jorge Mendes on the club’s Chinese owners Fosun International.
CHARLIE TAYLOR has been fined two weeks’ wages by Leeds for refusing to play against Wigan on Sunday amid interest in the left-back from Premier League clubs.