As Gianni Infantino stood beaming in the Miami stands on an unforgettable night at the World Cup, posing for selfies amid celebrities at the unforgettable Argentina vs Cape Verde match, it was hard not to wonder whether he should have been more focused on what Fifa are actually supposed to be about: running football tournaments.
Because, over five needlessly chaotic hours on Friday, they almost failed at the basics of that: confirming a kick-off time for a football match.
The basic details are worth recapping, all the more so because they are clouded in so much confusion.
Shortly after midday in Mexico City, and 7pm in the UK, one Mexican broadcaster reported as fact that Sunday’s last-16 match between Mexico and England was being brought forward six hours – to 12pm local – “due to a forecast of thunderstorms”.
National team coach Javier Aguirre even went on the same broadcaster’s show to furiously complain about it.
Various federation figures and Fifa sources were initially slow to even respond to questions about this, but it was eventually confirmed that negotiations were taking place. There was still a keenness within the global governing body to insist that there had been no agreement on a new time, or that the game was yet going to be moved.
Mexican media were still reporting it as a done deal, however, that this game was absolutely taking place at 12pm.
A rare popular Sir Keir Starmer decision, to allow pubs to stay open for a 1am kick-off, apparently wasn’t even going to have benefit. England fans would instead get to watch at prime time.
And then… an about-turn, if that’s how you can even describe this.
Some local media were reporting that the game was taking place at the original time, after all.
Just before 5pm, midnight in the UK, Fifa sources were confirming this, but after a lot of confusion and considerable cost.
This went beyond the two teams having to completely reconsider preparation plans for such a crucial game. The Independent has been told of England supporters who felt forced into paying thousands of dollars just to try and fulfil the dream of seeing the team at the Azteca, because their travel to Mexico City was cutting it too close.
That was directly because of a dismal lack of communication, that was all the worse given the proximity to the match.
In normal circumstances, after all, you could actually have some sympathy for Fifa here.
The summer circumstances in north America mean they have to be prepared for a certain adaptability due to the weather, and storms in Mexico City at this time of year are said by locals to be “like clockwork” and ferocious.
Fifa sources were talking about a “risk of flooding”. This match may yet be delayed on the night.
Mexican sources were meanwhile talking of other necessary considerations, like security and public order after the difficulties of handling celebrations following Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Ecuador.
There was obviously a lot to think about, and it’s completely fair that Fifa would have to discuss contingency plans.
It’s also out of their control that Mexican media just went and reported a change to kick-off.
Fifa were wrong-footed.
What is not out of their control, though, is how they respond to that.
There was no leadership, direction or answers. Infantino at that point didn’t seem to have control of his own competition.
Such perceptions became even worse when the various involved parties were pursued for explanation.
No one at Fifa was willing to go into any of it. The Football Association insisted it was nothing to do with them, and they are understood to have been astounded by developments. They hadn’t even been notified about any discussions when reports appeared in Mexican media, despite Fifa sources stating both federations had been informed at the same time. Aguirre fulminated that he hadn’t even been consulted.
“The schedule change hits like a kick in the stomach,” the Mexican coach said, while speaking to the logistical issues that both sides were now having to consider. “We have to change the entire plan. I don’t like it at all, nor do my players.
“Of course, the food, the nap, the sleep, the physiotherapy, everything, everything, it seems trivial, but it isn’t.”
Sources close to the Mexican FA were meanwhile saying they had been informed by local broadcasters.
As people scrambled for info, the England camp were en route from Kansas City to Mexico City. Their flight was apparently one of the few in north America that doesn’t have wifi.
As they were travelling, reports emerged in Mexico that all of this was a consequence of negotiations between Fifa and the BBC – a claim the BBC flatly denied.
The majority of those connected to the story already felt that idea was absurd, that the corporation would never consider trying to change the schedule, especially at this late stage.
The BBC were still one of the few to go on record.
No one else was willing to take public responsibility for pushing the change, and there was a lot of private finger-pointing.
Some believe it speaks to the ad hoc manner of governance in Infantino’s Fifa.
The eventual adherence to the original time – after five hours of confusion – was decided upon after hours of discussions with both federations.
While fears do persist about delays and flooding, a key factor was that the operation around the game – right up to military personnel – was too complicated for it to be changed.
The potential for confusion was too great. There’d been enough on Friday, not quite a day when time stood still but somehow went back and forth, amid all kinds of spin.
