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New York Times
23-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
FIFPro chief Marchi slams Infantino and highlights issues between FIFA and players
Sergio Marchi, the new president of international players union FIFPro, has doubled down on his public criticism of world governing body FIFA and its leader Gianni Infantino. 'The biggest obstacle to FIFPro today is the autocracy of FIFA's president,' he told The Athletic in a rare and exclusive interview from his home in La Plata, Argentina. Advertisement 'Infantino lives in his own world, the only thing that matters to him are these grand spectacles. But he doesn't listen to the players or acknowledge their needs. But I can't sit quietly while people suffer. A lot of people told me not to speak. But I follow my convictions. I'm persistent. And I'm not afraid of power.' Marchi is the first non-European president of FIFPro, which was launched in 1965 and aims to protect the right of more than 66,000 players worldwide. He took over the role from David Afanzo following a big shift in the organization with professional footballers voicing their concerns with the demands of the global calendar. Marchi has been working as secretary general of Argentina's players' union, Futbolistas Argentinos Agremiados (FAA), for the last 28 years and as president of FIFPro South America since 2021. He still holds both roles today, balancing his new global post with the same boots-on-the-ground approach that got him here and gives him a strong sense of duty. He promised he will keep working to improve the conditions for the players from day one. The son of working-class Argentinians, 'El Turco' Marchi understands what it means to be a professional football player. He was a defensive midfielder who played for Gimnasia de la Plata, then moved to Buenos Aires and captained San Lorenzo before heading to Mexico for a few seasons. But his politics and worldview are not only shaped by football also by struggle. As an activist during Argentina's dictatorship in the 1970s, hiding from police raids as a teenager, he witnessed his friends disappear. Instead of hiding in a corner, he got motivated to do more. Marchi's mission is simple: not self-preservation, but justice. He didn't set out to make noise, but he refuses to stay silent when the game fails on its own. Advertisement Marchi isn't opposed to FIFA's tournaments such as the recently concluded Club World Cup, but he joined a growing chorus of critics targeting Infantino's expanded event, calling it 'bread and circus,' a prominent Argentine saying, amid what he described as a glaring 'lack of protection' for players. FIFPro was excluded from a player welfare meeting convened by Infantino in New York, prompting Marchi to fly home instead of watching the final between Chelsea and Paris St. Germain. 'When the show ends and the lights go down, that's when the real world begins,' said Marchi, warning that the spectacle of tournaments like the World Cup and Club World Cup mask a harsher truth. 'These events weren't created by Infantino. They exist because of the players and the fans. He's not the owner of football, he's just the manager,' Marchi said. Marchi's insists that football's ruling body, flush with billions in revenue, has systematically ignored the fundamental rights of the people who make the game possible: players. He was particularly scathing about FIFA's decision to stage Club World Cup matches in over 100-degree heat at various venues across the United States. 'It's perverse to schedule matches at noon in that kind of heat,' he said. 'What are they waiting for? A tragedy? A collapse on the field? It's not just bad planning. It's disrespectful. 'If you asked a player whether they want to play at noon, in 45C heat, they'd say no. But no one asks them. They're told to shut up and play,' he said. That silencing, he said, is reinforced by fear. 'Enzo [Fernandez] criticized the conditions after the game,' he said. 'But most of the time players are afraid speaking up could hurt their careers. But it's up to us, their representatives, to speak for them. And I will.' FIFA declined to comment on Marchi's claims when contacted by The Athletic on Tuesday. Fernandez was among a handful of players who spoke out about the harsh conditions they endured during the Club World Cup. Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold complained it was impossible to 'think straight' and that he was 'overheating' during afternoon games in Miami, Florida, and Charlotte, North Carolina, while Jude Bellingham raised the issue with the quality of the pitch. Advertisement Beyond the star-studded event this summer, Marchi said thousands of professional football players endure far deeper, systemic problems. 'More than half of professional players aren't paid their wages, thousands are locked into contracts that are violated, many face abuse, physical, psychological, financial, that spills over into their families' lives,' Marchi said. Citing FIFA's recent boast that 2.5 million tickets had been sold for the Club World Cup, generating nearly $2 billion, Marchi pointed out the distribution has not been democratic. 'We're in the 21st century and thousands of players still go unpaid. Meanwhile, FIFA celebrates record ticket sales. Let them have their party, but the people who built the game should be paid too. 'Football is deeply inequitable. It's unjust. And we're in a profession that ends at 35, with a whole life still ahead.' Marchi claimed he had previously raised these concerns directly with FIFA's leadership, but said his efforts led nowhere. He doesn't expect this offer to be taken up, but Marchi made it clear he would challenge Infantino in a public forum if given the chance. 'I'd debate him [Infantino] anywhere,' Marchi said. 'Any journalist, any outlet, any format. Let the cameras roll. Let the world hear both sides. Because what FIFA presents is a filtered reality. They show you the lights, but hide the shadows. 'A lot of people inside FIFA are good people. But they're trying to protect their jobs. They're limited in what they can do. I'm not. I have a moral obligation to say these things. I'm not afraid.' Marchi recounted three personal meetings with Infantino, one of them just before the Club World Cup final. 'I wrote him a letter. I included a document outlining proposals, rest periods, social protections, real reforms. He took it, chopped it up, and presented it like he wrote it,' he said. Advertisement 'He gave me his word. Shook my hand. Promised action. And did nothing.' Marchi said the president should visit places like 'Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador,' and see teams 'that don't even have locker rooms or bathrooms.' 'Yes, it's nice to go to New York and Qatar,' he said. 'But go to Santos Guapiles, to Guanacaste, to Liberia, to Punta Arenas. See what football really looks like there. That's the reality of the global game.' Despite mounting criticism, the issues Marchi is raising remain unresolved while FIFA's tournaments grow bigger and bolder. At the 2026 World Cup, set to take place across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, teams will be crisscrossing a vast continent. With 16 host cities spread across three countries, most teams will play in two or three different venues during the group stage, averaging travel distances of 500 to 1,000 miles. The longest possible trek (from Mexico City to Vancouver) is over 3,000 miles. And for teams advancing deep into the knockout rounds, the travel demands will only intensify, with potential routings spanning thousands of miles between matches. Players also will have to endure a variety of climatic conditions and altitudes. 'It was announced that tickets for the World Cup are now going on sale, millions will surely be sold, according to the president, who says it will generate over three billion dollars in revenue,' Marchi emphasized. 'And it's incredible. Yet I'll say it again: There are still footballers who haven't been paid their salaries for two, three, even four years.' He also singled out women's football as a talking point. 'He loves to talk about the women's game,' Marchi said. 'Let him go to Bolivia. Venezuela. Africa. Let him see what's really happening with women's football outside of the spotlight.' Marchi believes one of the core problems is that footballers are still not involved in decisions that affect their lives and careers. 'FIFA statutes have said for 21 years that a minimum contract length is one year,' he said. 'It's in writing, but it's not enforced. That's on him [Infantino].' Advertisement Marchi may not walk the halls of Zurich's five-star offices anytime soon. Asked if he plans to try and meet Infantino again, Marchi scoffed. His fight will come from his home in La Plata. Will he try to meet up with Infantino? 'Honestly, he should be the one calling me,' he said. 'If he were a decent man, and I think he is, somewhere in there, he should first apologize for what footballers are going through. Because he's the president of FIFA. Then, he should say: 'OK, how do we fix this? How do we help our players?' 'Football doesn't belong to Infantino. It doesn't belong to FIFA. Football belongs to all footballers. And if there are Gods of football, it is Franco Baresi, Toto Schillaci, Diego Armando Maradona, Lionel Messi, Sócrates, Ronaldinho. Not Infantino.'
Telegraph
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Live USA v England: Score and latest updates from tour match
England have travelled to Audi Field in Washington DC to take on the USA in their final game of the summer tour. Steve Borthwick's men come into tonight's game off the back of a 2-0 series win over Argentina; a 12-35 victory in the first Test in La Plata was followed by a 17-22 win in San Juan. The victories in La Plata and San Juan mean that England have won six games in a row, dating back to their defeat to Ireland in the opening round of the Six Nations earlier this year. England head coach Borthwick is looking forward to tonight's match. 'We know the USA will present a tough challenge. There has been a great spirit in the squad throughout this tour. The players have worked hard for each other and pushed standards every day. Those selected this weekend have earned their chance through their effort and attitude. We aim to keep building the squad, learn from every experience, and deliver a performance that our supporters can be proud of.' There are three uncapped players named in the England starting XV; Bath centre Max Ojomoh, Sale full-back Joe Carpenter and Gloucester lock Arthur Clark. With Jamie George called up to the British and Irish Lions tour and Theo Dan picking up a knee injury in the second Test victory over Argentina, Borthwick has been forced to call up replacements. Gabriel Oghre and Jamie Blamire have linked up with the squad in the USA, with Oghre being named on the bench and will make his debut. The USA are down in 16th in the world rankings, following a 31-20 home loss to Spain. Their head coach is Scott Lawrence, who replaced former Bath and Worcester director of rugby Gary Gold. One of Lawrence's assistant coaches is former England number eight Nick Easter, who is in charge of their forwards and defence. There is no Bristol Bears fly-half AJ MacGinty in the USA side today. Today's match is the first time in over two decades that England will face the USA on American soil. Back in 2001 England won 19-48 in San Francisco under the leadership of Sir Clive Woodward, a side that included current head coach Borthwick. The sides last met during the 2021 summer series, with England winning 43-29 at Allianz Stadium. England have never lost in seven meetings with the USA.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Argentina 12-25 England: Centurion George Ford inspires thrilling first Test win
England produced a stunning start to their Test series against Argentina, winning 35-12 in La Plata in a performance inspired by 100-cap George Ford. The tourists are without 13 first-choice players due to the ongoing British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, and arrived in La Plata with most predicting another big win for the Pumas just two weeks on from their win over Andy Farrell's side in Dublin. Advertisement But Argentina failed to score any points in the first half littered mistakes in the face off an impressive rearguard display from the visitors. England were barely within sight of the Argentina 22 in the first half but a blistering start to the second saw them score three tries in seven minutes. The Pumas came back with two tries to forwards Pablo Matera — his 110th appearance tying Agustin Creevy's national caps record — and Pedro Rubiolo. But that's all England allowed in an impressive show of depth and ruthless efficiency. It even finished with a flourish. Replacement wing Cadan Murley scored the fourth try and co-captain George Ford, who became the eighth man to play 100 England tests, capped off a surprisingly emphatic win with 15 points and a try assist. Additional reporting by AP.
Telegraph
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Steak is a breakfast food and 20 other things I learnt on England's tour of Argentina
After 16 days, two provinces and three cities, the Argentinian voyage comes to an end. An under-strength England have defeated Argentina in both Tests – in La Plata and San Juan – extending their unbeaten run over Los Pumas on their own patch since the 2009 loss in Salta. It was my first time in Argentina, a country famed for the passion of its people and the heartiness of its food and drink. Experiencing this country, as well as following England's movements – not to mention, success – in it, was a privilege. Here is what I learnt, both on and off the rugby field, from an unforgettable trip. 1. George Ford is England's best option at fly-half – that is not controversial A case can be made for all of them but I saw enough of Ford's influence on this tour, both in matches and at training, to know that England were not lacking for having three fly-halves with the Lions. Steve Borthwick has a real selection headache on the horizon come the autumn. It is not just at fly-half where Borthwick has positive quandaries, however, but in the back row, back three and, maybe, the front row, too. After the second Test victory, Borthwick said: 'You can see that we have a number of world-class flankers and we have got to have them in the team because of how much they add in terms of breakdown speed, how much they add in attack, so I think they have to be in the team.' 2. Lee Blackett is a brilliant coach He will one day either coach international rugby or return to becoming a truly great club head coach. He worked closely with Ford on this tour and England's attacking shape and strategy, even if the execution occasionally let them down, had the Pumas at sixes and sevens. In training, Blackett was influential and it should come as no surprise that he ended last season as a Premiership winner with Bath. 3. Blackett is also a very good padel player His partnering with Byron McGuigan, another coach temporarily seconded to England for this trip, was fearsome. The final score, when they took on the travelling media, is irrelevant. 4. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is a rocket A rusty one, albeit, but a rocket nonetheless. His strike-running during training was a class above, even if occasionally the skill level let him down. Admittedly, he has only played 34 minutes of rugby in 2025. 5. England's defence was immense in Argentina Joe El-Abd, heavily involved in last weekend's training session, deserves credit alongside McGuigan. 6. England's team spirit looked potent and impregnable Naturally, I was not in amongst it as some of the players and coaching staff, but after the second Test victory in San Juan, Borthwick spoke about how impressed he had been by it. The head coach stopped short of saying it was the best he had seen, but there was a suggestion: 'I want to bottle the spirit of La Plata, the spirit of San Juan, and take it with us wherever we go.' 7. Argentina's reputation for steak is deserved The cuts are all different, it is nearly mostly cooked over charcoal (asado) and, sometimes, they can be a little tougher than European steaks. But they were always juicy, the flavour always supreme. And, at my hotel in La Plata, the city in which England won the first Test, it was served at breakfast on weekends. And, yes, I did have it. The Malbec was as pleasant as everyone says, too. 'When in Rome' and all that... 8. Carlos Nieto's pub was almost worth the trip to La Plata alone La Plata's cathedral was opulent and magnificent, but there was not much going on in the city. Except steak, of course. And except La Rabieta, the pub owned by Nieto, the former Italy, Gloucester and Saracens prop. Although, don't foolishly get yourself in a round with him (as I did). It does not end well. 9. La Plata's pavements are death traps They all need re-laying. They must have laid waste to many an ankle in their time. 10. Driving nears total anarchy In both La Plata and San Juan, no one has any clue whose right of way it is; not drivers, nor pedestrians. There are very few road markings, even fewer give way signs. I lost count of the number of times I swore while walking about each city; I also lost count at the number of times taxi drivers laughed at me while I was swearing as their passenger. Buenos Aires, the capital, was slightly better, in that there was the occasional regulation pedestrian crossing. With that seemingly overrated invention (in Argentina, at least) of red and green men. 11. Tax is both baffling and seemingly optional Many places brazenly advertise discounts for both bank transfer and cash payments while one taxi driver told me that if I wanted an invoice I would have to pay a 15 per cent increased fare. There is an extremely cavalier attitude towards tax on goods, and yet when I paid on card for a solitary bottle of Diet Coke in a supermarket I had to input my passport number at the self-checkout. All very odd. 12. England are building World Cup-winning depth They are not there yet – and I am not saying that they are favourites (or even close) for the World Cup in 2027 as things stand, but they are tracking nicely. 13. Argentina adores rugby I arrived expecting football to be dominant here and rugby to be a minority sport. While football is by far and away the most popular, rugby is bigger than I was expecting, with a loyal, zealous fanbase. 14. Los Pumas need to find some props Desperately. England had the upper hand at the scrum in the first Test, Argentina then changed their props entirely for the second and the same outcome was achieved. For a nation with such a fearsome reputation for scrummaging, it was quite concerning. However, there are high hopes for their under-20s front row, who have impressed in the World Championships in Italy. 15. Tom Harrison loves scrums and loves talking about them Chatting to him about his scrum session was the most engaging and captivating I have seen him in an England media session. He was in his element. His front-rowers could not have done him prouder, either. 16. Lock remains an area of concern for England Charlie Ewels and Alex Coles did little wrong on the Argentina tour but Borthwick opted to go without out-and-out lock cover on the bench. Chandler Cunningham-South, covering second row, only featured for 20 minutes across the two Tests and there was no spot for Nick Isiekwe or Arthur Clark. Admittedly, Maro Itoje and Ollie Chessum are with the Lions and George Martin is injured but England need to, at least, develop some locks with Test potential – and sharpish. 17. Freddie Steward remains a Test class full-back Steward has strengths and weaknesses but he proved that he still has what it takes at the highest level after becoming more of a fringe player over the past two years. After a season working with Peter Hewat at Leicester, Steward is moving the ball more freely and swiftly, too. 18. Five-three benches will become a thing of the past Borthwick may well revert to that for the match against the US on Sunday but the second Test in San Juan proved how much value the head coach places in a 6:2 bench split (he's only picked 6:2 benches all year). On Saturday that formation was preferred even with Ben Spencer covering fly-half, a position in which he never started a professional match. 19. England are likely to have a favourable World Cup draw Borthwick's side are currently ranked fifth in the world and need to be in the top six by the end of November. That now looks likely, given Australia and Argentina are in the hunt and face some of the best teams in the world before the deadline. 20. There was barely any Falklands-related hostility Even when I told people I was from England or London, nothing changed. Everyone was friendly and helpful. I was not expecting much, but the only reference to Las Malvinas which I either saw or heard on the whole trip was a solitary banner draped over some trees close to the stadium for the first Test. No one paid it much attention, either. Thankfully, that was it. 21. The Argentine population is hospitable and convivial England experienced it in the way that Club San Luis hosted them in La Plata – not just for training, but for an asado dinner, too – and I experienced it everywhere I went. They might be a fiery, rebellious people, but they also could never do enough to help. It is born out of pride for their country; they wanted me to see that pride. And I did. After Blackett and McGuigan had trounced all and sundry at padel, the manager of the courts was so embarrassed at not taking payment by card – not that he had any obligation to deign to our metropolitan ways – that he drove to my hotel a day later to gift me two bottles of local Malbec, to apologise for the payment inconvenience. Thanks for those, Jorge; they were delicious. And, in a wonderfully wacky way, your country is fabulous.
Telegraph
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
England player ratings v Argentina: Fin Baxter is world class, George Ford shines as captain
England beat Argentina 22-17 in San Juan on Saturday to complete a 2-0 series win. After beating their hosts 35-12 in La Plata last weekend, Steve Borthwick's side were made to work harder in a tense clash. Here is Telegraph Sport 's analysis of who will have impressed the head coach and who has more work to do. Give your opinion with our thumbs up/thumbs down voting tool.
