Giulini takes the controversy head on

In a scene worthy of an Italian sports comedy, FIFA president Gianni Infantino was caught red-handed transforming from supreme custodian of world football to unrestrained Inter fan during a match at the San Siro against Cagliari. Not quite the behavior one would expect from the FIFA president, who should embody sporting impartiality rather than be seen cheering for the Nerazzurri like any other fan in the corner.

Tommaso Giulini, president of Cagliari, took the opportunity to unleash a certain amount of sarcasm by responding to a video that showed Infantino’s obvious disappointment at Inter’s missed opportunity. Giulini chose irony to comment on the incident: “He applauds – this is the comment of the Sardinian club’s number one – Scuffet’s beautiful save”. Social media were not as measured in their reaction, with a range of comments that ranged from joking disappointment to the not at all ironic request for resignation: “He should apologize and resign”, as if misplaced cheering could erase years of diplomatic career in soccer.

But, as we know, in football the heart often takes precedence over reason. Football, that strange Sunday liturgy that transforms presidents into fans and stadiums into stages, has seen another act of its eternal comedy: the president of FIFA who “openly supports Inter”. A situation that many did not hesitate to criticize, pointing out how far Infantino’s behavior was from the usual reserve he displays on international occasions such as the World Cup or Champions League finals.

Infantino, wrapped in this unlikely guise of a fan, showed that even football giants can have their Achilles’ heel, although one would expect them to keep it hidden under a blanket of professionalism. “Okay – comments a rossoblù fan – Cagliari is always treated like a foreign team. So scoring two goals in front of such an important fan is double pleasure”. All that remains is to wait for the next match to see if the FIFA president will decide to hide his Nerazzurri heart under the institutional dress or if once again he will let himself go to the emotions of football, that game which, evidently, spares no one, not even the its highest leaders.