Infantino threatens to stop Super League players participating in the World Cup FIFA Defends himself in an interview

Players who decide to feature in any separatist league will face severe punishment according to FIFA president, Gianni Infantino.

An alleged agreement has been made between several European clubs for the creation of a closed competition outside from the football's governing bodies.

According to DPA, Infantino has assured that those who participate in such a move will have further sanctions.

In an interview for EFE, he defended himself against accusations that he has favoured Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City after several Financial Fair Play breaches.

Is it true that you have favoured the interests of the so-called State clubs?

"To begin with, I tell you that we have changed FIFA from top to bottom and today it's solid. We organise competitions with criteria and develop football all over the world. We have multiplied by four what FIFA invests in each country and we have imposed and multiplied audits in each federation all over the world, so that the money that is paid ends up where it should be. We are very proud of our work."

Do the police have indications of how the emails have leaked from FIFA? Do you suspect old workers?

"They haven't found or will find anything in the emails, as there is no illegal act. In this company everything is discussed internally, as there are divergent positions, people who think differently, in a company of the XXI Century. Is this a crime? Before, in other times, there were millions in banks, now they find work emails between employees and their President, discussing how to develop and improve football. That is the difference."

Did the system help PSG?

"It's not true. Agreements with clubs under the Financial Fair Play system have been the absolute maximum since 2014. Ninety-eight percent of the European clubs that have violated the 'break-even' principle had signed agreements with UEFA. Everyone has been treated equally.

"Additionally, I would like to remind you that these agreements that some now criticise have led to very serious disciplinary sanctions for the clubs. How is it possible to say that they have been helped? It's as if they don't know how the UEFA regulations work and have a total disregard for the system that was agreed between UEFA and the European clubs and validated by CAS.

"All clubs in Europe benefit from the Financial Fair Play system. The most important thing is the clubs, as the goal is not to 'kill' them but to help them to be sustainable. My job is to debate, in any case, to find agreements and improve the system."

What shape are FIFA's accounts in?

"When I arrived there were 900 million euros of reserves. Today there are 2,300m, a figure that FIFA never had, and we're investing four times more. What I wonder is what they did with the money before. We look forward, expanding women's football, putting value in the World Cup in Russia that was an absolute success. The launch of VAR was another success that has transformed football. And of course culminating for the first time a process of designation of the headquarters of the 2026 World Cup to the US, Mexico and Canada without scandal. We are serious people. They will never find money issues. We know where it comes from and where it goes."

Will there be finally 48 national teams in the Qatar World Cup?

"Why not? We work for football in football. It will be submitted for approval in March, but the possibility [of it not going ahead] is small."

Does FIFA consider the creation of a European Super League a risk?

"This matter has been on the table for twenty years. The risk exists, it is real. There are documents. But it is our responsibility to find ways for football to be united. This is why we have proposed a new Club World Cup. It is important to state that FIFA, with this tournament, also appeals to solidarity. Private entrepreneurs don't do it. We do. It is decided in March, but I am not a prophet and I don't know if it will be approved. But I have a challenge to convince clubs to improve the current World Cup we already have. And convince them with compromises. Football is not a nuclear war."

Has your opinion changed regarding LaLiga Santander's Girona-Barcelona game in Miami? You weren't very convinced.

"You have to analyse the future with care. Football must be protected. Surely LaLiga Santander wouldn't like the Premier League to play matches in Spain."

Meanwhile the RFEF want to bring the final of the Super Cup to the United States. What do you think?

"It's a different matter, as it's already happened with the Super Cups. It's a secondary game in a season. It's not LaLiga Santander or the Copa del Rey. The Super Cup is a promotional game and it doesn't affect third parties. The two clubs play under the same conditions."

Xavi Hernandez proposed changing the rules and ten players playing instead of eleven.

"I'll talk to Xavi soon (smiling)."

At this point, Zvonimir Boban, the former Croatian player, now Deputy General Secretary of FIFA intervenes.

"Xavi is a genius who asks a great question," he says.

"He thinks that way because there are fewer and fewer spaces, but the truth is that it's difficult to change. Everything can be debated of course and I understand his arguments."

Will you [Infantino] stand for re-election in June 2019?

"Yes. I have 190 people supporting me from different federations around the world. Even so, I don't think about taking holidays this year. I want a strong and structured FIFA."