FIFA president says Leicester proves fairytales are possible

[webfact]

FIFA president says Leicester proves fairytales are possible
CHRIS LINES, AP Sports Writer

BANGKOK (AP) — FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited the headquarters of Leicester's ownership company on Thursday and said the club's Premier League title run shows that fairytales are still possible.

Infantino, visiting Thailand for the centenary of the local soccer association, met with local officials at the hotel connected to the headquarters of King Power, the duty free company which is the main business interest of Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

Leicester was a 5000-1 outsider when the season began but can clinch the Premier League title on Sunday if the team wins at Manchester United.

"Money does not necessarily win in football," Infantino said. "Fairytales like the fairytale of Leicester are exactly showing us that football is unpredictable.

"Money is an important element when you build up a team, but it's not only this."

The FIFA president, who took over the role in February following the corruption scandal that engulfed the world body and predecessor Sepp Blatter, said he was impressed by his meeting with the new head of the Football Association of Thailand, former national police chief Somyot Poompanmoung.

Somyot represented a new administration for the FAT following the suspension of predecessor Worawi Makudi, the former FIFA executive committee member who is now banned as part of the fallout from the FIFA scandal.

"We have zero tolerance on any of the wrongdoing that may have happened," Infantino said. "I am convinced he (Somyot) is the right person to lead football in Thailand into a new era."

Infantino also discussed the ongoing suspension of Indonesia, and said the country was running out of time to come up with reform proposals and avoid a lengthy ban.

The Indonesian soccer association has been suspended because of government interference.

Infantino met the head of the association's reform committee, Agum Gumelar, in Zurich this week, and said Thursday that they have until this year's FIFA congress in May to lay out reform plans.

If the FIFA executive committee does not lift the suspension before the FIFA congress, the ban could be confirmed at that meeting and therefore be in place until the congress meets again in 2017.

"This, for me, is the deadline to receive some sort of procedure from Indonesia that they want to move forward." Infantino said. "They know what they have to do.

"A suspension or an exclusion is never a solution, it's a failure. A failure for us as well because we have not been able to convince everyone to do the right thing."


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-04-29

[reggaebkk]

Not won yet, hey still need max 3 points. But what an arsekikking to the meagrich clubs!!! Way to go!!!

[Chicog]

Yes, some people believe the fairytale that having Infantino in charge will purge the corruption from FIFA.


Meanwhile, joke of the day:

What's blue and white and sings?

Gloria Leicesterfan

[Ulic]

FIFA President making the rounds making sure everyone knows it will be business as usual

but they will have to be more careful to keep things on the down low. Everyone will get more

money, but they will have to cover-up how they get it into their pockets with greater care.

[sanukjim]

Hooray for the underdog.Come on Leicester

[naboo]

Have they paid for their stadium yet?

[IAMHERE]

Moneyball at work. The movie will be remade with UK accents.