Football: FIFA President thanks Trump and countered critics like Klopp

FIFA boss Gianni Infantino pronounced his “big thanks” for the support in the tournament before the final of the World Cup, US President Donald Trump. This was indispensable at the event in the new large format with 32 participants. And they have also been important with regard to the World Cup with 48 national teams for the first time in the coming year in Canada, Mexico and the USA.

At the same time, the 55-year-old president of the World Association described the club World Cup “as the most successful club competition in the world” at a media appointment with former player legends in the Trump Tower in New York. Infantino also tried the day before the final between Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain and FC Chelsea to refute extreme tournament critics such as Jürgen Klopp with impressive number of visitors and financial yields.

Infantino justified the closeness he was looking for to Trump, who will also visit the final on Sunday (9:00 p.m. MESZ/SAT.1. And DAZN) in the Metlife Stadium in New York New Jersey. “Events such as the club World Cup or the World Cup in the coming year are very big events with hundreds of thousands of visitors,” said Infantino.

“You can’t think of organizing such a competition without the absolute support and the full commitment of the respective government. My big thank you goes to President Trump and his entire team. They were fantastic.”

2.5 million viewers, $ 2.1 billion

When asked about Klopp, which the club World Cup in the new XXL format over a period of four weeks as “the worst idea that was ever implemented in football”, Infantino reacted more generally. “I respect everyone and everyone,” said the FIFA boss.

He feels encouraged in his heart project. “The golden era of club football has started.” Infantino named various figures: A total of 2.5 million viewers came to the stadiums for the 63 games, which was an average of 40,000 per game.

The “revolutionary” TV contract with the streaming service DAZN made it possible for 20 billion spectators worldwide to see all games free of charge. “Tell me a competition in club football that can be received completely free of charge.” 2.1 billion US dollar sales were generated, an average of $ 33 million per game.

The prize money for the participants, including FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, was one billion dollars. The final victory on Sunday alone is rewarded with $ 40 million. “Together we created something new that changes football’s map,” said Infantino.