Paul Goodacre

Personal trainer & fitness coach/property investor/snowboarder🏂/cyclist 🚴🏼‍♂️/#NFFC

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

The House of Infantino has to close. And the House of FIFA reopen. FIFA has to show that it is not a presidential fiefdom, that it can be a fair-minded custodian of world football ruling by sound principles of governance, togetherness, decorum and transparency. That it can resist political and commercial interference that tainted the recent World Cup. The White House call over Balogun, sponsored hydration breaks & shameless ticket prices all on Gianni Infantino’s watch. Now the "World Cup for sale" plan. To move forward and regain trust, FIFA must remove its discredited president now.

Potential successors are mooted. Victor Montagliani from CONCACAF; Sheikh Salman Al-Khalifa from AFC; Nasser Al-Khelaifi of PS-G. Do they want it anyway? Al-Khelaifi is said to be unwilling. The deadline is Nov 18 for candidates to declare for the presidential election in Rabat on March 18. But Infantino might have rebuilt his support by then. Action is needed now. In most organisations, Infantino would have been dismissed by now for dragging the world’s most-loved sport to the brink of civil war because of his divisive plan and his arrogant decision to ignore collective governance. An emergency referendum of the 211 associations on Infantino’s fitness to lead is needed immediately. His continued presence serves to damage FIFA only further.

Some within want him out. It’s all very Shakespearean when a family turns on a flawed man, King Learjet in this case. Elements of FIFA’s culture clearly need addressing. The power and intoxicating proximity to world leaders and world footballing greats can go to the head of some. Safeguards need introducing to limit the president’s power. He is there to serve, not be served. Infantino, respected during his eight years at UEFA, changed at FIFA. No accountability and very, very rare press conferences when he could be called out.

He became all ego, no humility. The World Cup trophy was not Infantino’s to handle in the proprietorial way he did. Only Rodri and his wonderful Spanish compadres had that right. Concocting a Peace Prize was full, sirens-blaring evidence that Infantino crossed the line from custodian to narcissist.

If FIFA is strong and moves Infantino on now, citing his venture capitalist plan and the lack of proper consultation as a dismissible offence, the obvious caretaker is general secretary Matthias Grafstrom. He’s a total contrast to Infantino in many ways. The 45-year-old Swede is low key, ego-free, a team player, not really a charismatic leader but a safe pair of hands. That’s what FIFA needs now - the appliance of governance not a dangerous individualist who forgot he’s a sports administrator not a world leader.

Infantino has to be eased out now. Otherwise, the danger is he rebuilds his powerbase and influence by offering member associations substantial sums from FIFA reserves in the manner of a feudal king dispensing favours to ensure support - and also pushing through plans for a 64-team World Cup in 2030. 127 of the 211 FIFA members have never been to the World Cup; 64 opens the door more, temptingly. Both offers could win back support and ensure Infantino wins another four-year term in the presidential election in March.

That would be a disaster for the game. That would let down the many good people amongst FIFA’s 953 full-time employees. Many work tirelessly organising tournaments, believing in the not-for-profit, public service element of their organisation. Good people drawn from 76 nationalities who ask not what the global game can do for them, but what they can do for the global game.

It would be good to hear from Arsene Wenger. Now FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, Wenger would have railed against Infantino's behaviour during his time as Arsenal manager. Wenger needs to take a stand now.

Others are. “Our mission - the mission of the hundreds of passionate, dedicated, and exemplary FIFA employees - is to serve football,” chief operating officer Kevin Lamour wrote in his powerful statement to the Associated Press’ Graham Dunbar. “Not to serve the personal interests of a person who, unfortunately, believes he embodies FIFA when he is supposed to be at its service.” FIFA needs to get back to that reputation for service not a reputation for presidential self-aggrandisement. Infantino out.

[Property Week @PropertyWeek]

Hammerson has purchased a 50% stake in Manchester's Arndale shopping centre for £218m as the firm pivots towards external acquisitions in a bid to scale the business.

Read Jamie Bennett-Ness' report: https://t.co/NI4EAKWRR6

#RealEstate

[The Daily Show @TheDailyShow]

Trump dropped Lindsey Graham's phone number AGAIN during his eulogy. Who wants to give it a shot?

[Paul Goodacre @PaulCGoodacre]

@ForestNews_Info Or Toffolo ??

[Paul Goodacre @PaulCGoodacre]

@mattforde The best news Matt !

[Paul Goodacre @PaulCGoodacre]

@elljanderson @YouuuuuuuReds @NFFC Best of luck Elliot. It’s been a privilege to watch you week in, week out grow into a world class player.
Thank you for the last two years !

[Elliot Anderson @elljanderson]

Forest family,

Firstly I am so grateful for the love and support you have shown me over the last 2 years especially towards the end of this season. From the minute I walked through the door i fell in love with this club.

I want to thank all the staff and players for welcoming me and making my time here so enjoyable, this club gave me the opportunity to grow as a player and a person.

Bringing the club European football again after 29 years is what all of you fans deserved and to be a helping hand in that is so special.

Nottingham forest will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you for all the unforgettable memories.

❤️ 🌳

[Paul Goodacre @PaulCGoodacre]

@MRiggers96 @AwayDaysFB Exactly this

[Imran @Im_K1992]

There’s going to be 30 minute half time break for a superbowl style concert. Thats after we’ve had to watch 4 quarters of football all World Cup instead of 2 halves. Never give America another World Cup. #WorldCupFinal

[Nottingham Forest @NFFC]

That pass from MGW. 🤤

[N_11_Gaz @Gaz_11_N]

If you have left a Pandora bag in TBI it’s been handed behind the bar. It had a necklace or bracket in it. #nffc #ncfc

[Paul Hayward @_PaulHayward]

Reciting the names of players who should have gone to a World Cup is hypothetical hindsight, but I'm going to pick two who would have been useful against Argentina...

Harry Maguire.
Morgan Gibbs-White.

[Paul Goodacre @PaulCGoodacre]

@SarcasticForest @annastorey78 You’ve won the internet with that one

[Paul Goodacre @PaulCGoodacre]

@mattforde It’s gutting Matt, but not Forest getting relegated gutting. So chin up 😎 we’re still Premier League !

[Paul Goodacre @PaulCGoodacre]

@RobDorsettSky It’s a straight red. End of.

[Paul Goodacre @PaulCGoodacre]

@David_Ornstein @TheAthleticFC It was a straight red. Embarrassing from the FA to appeal it.
Take it on the chin and move on

[Paul Goodacre @PaulCGoodacre]

@theawayfans Half time - Fulham v Forest, a 5/0 thrash. Shambles, thought it would be Cooper’s last game, players looked lost and at 3-0 at half time got an earlier train back to Nottingham - fuming

[Paul Goodacre @PaulCGoodacre]

@TheAthleticFC @mjshrimper Where’s the circus tent gone ???

[Paul Goodacre @PaulCGoodacre]

@TheAthleticFC @GuillermoRai_ Seriously ??? Mbappe didn’t know what legged needed scanning???? 🤦

[Paul Goodacre @PaulCGoodacre]

@ellencarmichael @NMBLAKE It’s a red card all day long. Decision was correct