Khaberni - Former world champion Marco Tardelli criticized the sarcastic remarks made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup 2026.
Infantino sparked a broad controversy when he jokingly said that Italy might have succeeded in qualifying if the tournament had included 64 teams, adding: "Perhaps we need to increase the number to 228 teams", mockingly referring to Italy's absence from the finals for the third consecutive time.
In response, Tardelli, one of the stars of the Italian team that won the 1982 World Cup, considered these remarks disrespectful to Italy and its soccer history, pointing out that the FIFA President "has made several mistakes recently since he began his relationship with US President Donald Trump".
Infantino's statements stirred angry reactions within the Italian sports circles, where the Italian Minister of Sports, Andrea Abodi, demanded an official clarification, announcing his intention to directly contact the FIFA president to discuss the implications of this comment.
The controversy comes at a time when Italian football is experiencing one of its toughest periods, having failed to reach the World Cup finals for the third consecutive time, despite its rich history with four world titles.
