Tom Olav Holberg

[Tom Olav Holberg @TOHolberg]

@gardlm Tenker på deg hver gang Viaplay fryser, så tenker ofte på deg. Senest da Bobb skulle avslutte nå. Vet fortsatt ikke hvordan den sjansen endte. @ViaplayFotball

[FIFPRO @FIFPRO]

FIFPRO Statement: FIFA Forward Enterprise

Full statement: https://t.co/Dgr5J5B87h

[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.

[Andreas Selliaas @aselliaas]

FIFA-presidenten gir seg ikke. Det må ikke vi heller.

«Infantinos hat og løgner» https://t.co/07PEg1m46y

[Tom Olav Holberg @TOHolberg]

@Tjaernas Helt utrolig å se at 200 av 211 medlemsland støtter’n… skulle nesten tro det var et Stockholmsyndrom.

[Tom Olav Holberg @TOHolberg]

@Ankaman616 Best thing is unai Simon shaking hands with both Infantino and Trump with his gloves on. We all know what keepers do with their gloves to keep them moist…

[Boring_Business @BoringBiz_]

Investment bankers sending you Claude generated diligence responses

[Tom Olav Holberg @TOHolberg]

@lauriewhitwell Difficult for England to go through without the help from the spider cam and VAR. Regards from a still bitter Norwegian…

[Tom Olav Holberg @TOHolberg]

@Ankaman616 And Norway 2026… just robbed by a spider cam and a diving Elliot A.

[Tom Olav Holberg @TOHolberg]

@KarlOStrom @OHaraldseid Minner om tweeten din etter Frankrike-kampen den der, @KarlOStrom 🤣

[Tom Olav Holberg @TOHolberg]

@steamedhamms @Ankaman616 2 million Norwegians (out of 5.5 million) watched Norway vs. Brazil -although not at 2am..

[Erik Niva @ErikNiva]

Det finns matcher, det finns vinster – och så finns det monument.
Det är det Erling Haaland och de andra gjort här ikväll.
De har rest ett nytt nationalmonument.
https://t.co/DuFsRSoITS

[Tom Olav Holberg @TOHolberg]

@Kasper_Foss minner meg om FA-cup semien mellom United og Arsenal i 1999 som NRK sendte i redigert opptak. Siden de kom til straffesparket til Arsenal mot slutten av ordinær tid og det var lenge igjen av sendinga var det helt åpenbart at Arsenal bomma. Husker som det var i går! Fortsatt sur

[Tom Olav Holberg @TOHolberg]

@HanFarStockUp @IversAudun Tar gjerne begge deres take på hvorvidt (og hvordan) dere tror Vend blir disrupta de kommende årene?

[Tom Olav Holberg @TOHolberg]

@DagLangerod 😅

[Tom Olav Holberg @TOHolberg]

@phillynorway @jonasgahrstore @EspenBarthEide Spot on!!

[Tom Olav Holberg @TOHolberg]

@phillynorway @jonasgahrstore Antok det😅😃

[Tom Olav Holberg @TOHolberg]

@DavyWathne Den legendariske FA-cup-semien mellom Man Utd og Arsenal i 1999 ble sendt i redigert opptak på NRK. Da Arsenal fikk straffe og det fortsatt var 30 min igjen av sendingen skjønte jeg schmeichel ville redde. Bror @JAHolberg (12 år) sendte e-post til NRK påfølgende dag for å klage.