FIFA President Gianni Infantino unexpectedly canceled his attendance at a Milken Institute event in the Hamptons, New York, on Friday night. The appearance would have placed him alongside U.S. senators and Wall Street executives.
Infantino's private jet remained on the tarmac in Doha, Qatar, where he owns a home, as he withdrew from the exclusive gathering. This comes shortly after reports revealed Infantino had been undertaking significant air travel, which the report suggested was in a bid to secure his position. His extensive travel, referred to as a "gargantuan carbon footprint" by one report, has drawn scrutiny.
This development follows a report from last week detailing Infantino's frequent travel, which was presented as part of his efforts to navigate the ongoing World Cup sell-off scandal. The scandal involves allegations of criminal mismanagement.
UEFA, European football's governing body, also filed court papers in several U.S. states the day before Infantino's canceled appearance. These filings seek documents that UEFA believes could support a prosecution for criminal mismanagement in Switzerland concerning Infantino's alleged plot to sell stakes in the World Cup.
The movements of Infantino's jet earlier in the week also raised questions. On Tuesday, the aircraft reportedly flew from Paris, where Infantino had attended the Esports World Cup, to Majorca for a brief period, then to Pisa for approximately seven hours, before carrying him to Hanoi for the ASEAN Cup final. The report noted that Josh Kushner, brother-in-law to former President Donald Trump and reportedly implicated in the scandal, has vacationed in Majorca.
Qatar, meanwhile, appears to be navigating a delicate position. While offering support to Infantino, the nation is also seeking favor with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for a potential bid to host the 2036 Olympics. Although many in the Olympic Movement are not inherently opposed to selling competition shares to private equity firms, a common concern across federations is the lack of transparency and governance demonstrated by Infantino in introducing such plans.
In unrelated sports news, tributes were paid at Premier League matches over the weekend to two police officers killed in Middlesbrough. Match officials at the Leeds v Brentford game wore black armbands in memory of PC Matthew Blades, who died along with PC Tom Clough when their vehicle was struck by a car driving the wrong way. At Old Trafford, PC Blades' two children served as mascots for Manchester United's match against Ipswich Town. Manchester United also unveiled a new platform at their stadium honoring Chas Banks MBE, a former secretary of the club's disabled supporters' association who passed away in 2024.
Elsewhere, Hollywood actors Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper were reportedly filming scenes for an Ocean's Eleven prequel in Monaco, with part of the story set against the backdrop of the 1962 Grand Prix. The film crew used replica vintage cars to recreate the era.
Danny Reuben, the head of communications for the England men's cricket team, has departed his role approximately one year before the next Ashes series. Reuben, who had been in the position for 10 years, reportedly has admirers within the Australian cricket setup.
At the UEFA Champions League draw event in Monaco, described as typically featuring a lavish light show, the event reportedly scaled back its entertainment. The roof remained closed, and trapeze artists dressed as disco balls provided the main entertainment, leading some to speculate if UEFA was intentionally toning down expenses in light of scrutiny on FIFA's financial practices.