FIFA: Aurelio De Laurentiis bows to Gianni Infantino

A major show of support for the FIFA president

World Today at 10:08

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FIFA: Aurelio De Laurentiis bows to Gianni Infantino

Naples president Aurelio De Laurentiis has publicly praised Gianni Infantino in recent days. The statement further bolsters the FIFA president as he has faced criticism for several weeks now.

It must be said that Aurelio De Laurentiis has never hidden his criticism of football’s governing bodies. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has not been spared. However, at a ceremony held in Rome on Wednesday by the Association of Foreign Press in Italy, the president of Naples acknowledged that he had been impressed by the organisation of the 2026 World Cup.

🚨Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis:

"The new stadium in east Naples will hold 70,000 seats. The Maradona must be destroyed, we pay 2 million per year to use it. Don't ask about Spalletti, managers are just employees" pic.twitter.com/rwjdNOeoY8
— Polymarket Sports (@PolymarketSport) September 23, 2026

"I wanted to bring Infantino down, but when I saw how he had organised everything, I said: 'No, I take my hat off, I have to admit that it was well done.' The stadiums were organised in an extraordinary way," said Aurelio De Laurentiis. He nevertheless maintained his criticism of the way FIFA and football’s major governing bodies operate.

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.