Controversy at the top of FIFA shows a failure in stewarding a God-given gift, according to the director of Christians in Sport.
Dr Graham Daniels, who is also director at Cambridge United FC, told Premier Christian News that while we may not have a window into the heart of Gianni Infantino and his intentions, his actions have created a clear “lack of trust”.
FIFA’s president is still under pressure, having backtracked on plans to sell commercial stakes in tournaments including the World Cup. Arsene Wenger, former Arsenal manager and the organisation's head of global football development, became the latest figure to voice opposition. He said on Tuesday that the reversal was “absolutely necessary and beyond question”.
Reflecting on the saga, Daniels pointed to Proverbs, “the integrity of the upright guides them” (11:3), in how plans were drawn up in secret and away from national football associations.
“It lacks all integrity. It simply doesn’t fit properly and everybody’s furious. Not necessarily because it's a bad idea, though I think it is, but because of the way [Infantino has] handled it, when he's in charge. So, if you're going to be a servant leader, you really can't work like that, because he is a leader," he said.
“All leaders are in a privileged position. Every single one of us, with any leadership of other people, has to ask themselves: Do you want to be first or last? Leaders need to be the last. They need to serve the cause, not dominate it.”
Daniels said that as “sport is a gift from God”, Christians should take an interest in how the game is managed.
“God made us able to run, jump, kick, catch, and so we shouldn't be surprised that more people play football across the world than do any other hobby or activity. So the Christian can't shut God out of that and say it's just some neutral activity. It's a God-given gift," he said.
“Therefore, it is important that Christians say to people, whether they have faith or not, that this is a precious gift from God to creation, and if it's such a big part of everyday life for ordinary human beings, we must govern it with justice and dignity and respect.
“We must be the guardians of God's good gifts to all of creation, and therefore we do have a responsibility on his behalf to be his stewards of this gift, and we will hold people to account."