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Infantino labelled as 'Nero' in growing row with players' union
The Guardian
|July 15, 2025
The president of Fifpro has described the Club World Cup as a "fiction" and compared Gianni Infantino to the Roman emperor Nero, as the dispute between the players' union and Fifa continued to escalate.
Sergio Marchi joined the ranks of critics of Infantino's expanded event, saying a "lack of protection" for players had left the Club World Cup equivalent to "bread and circuses". It is understood Fifpro was not invited to a meeting regarding player welfare held by Infantino in New York on the eve of the final, won 3-0 by Chelsea against Paris Saint-Germain.
Marchi said the Club World Cup was not without its strengths because it had "generated enthusiasm among numerous fans and allowed some of the world's leading figures to be seen in a single tournament", but he said it did not represent football well.
This story is from the July 15, 2025 edition of The Guardian.
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