FIFA President Infantino Says ‘Nobody Knows’ When Football Will Resume

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has admitted that there is no clear indication when football will be able to resume around the world following the widespread disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Infantino said the global health crisis had made football a secondary concern, stressing that protecting lives and defeating the virus had to remain the priority.

“We all wish that we could have soccer tomorrow, but unfortunately it’s not possible and nobody in the world today knows when we will be able to play like before,” Infantino said during a video address to South American football officials.

He also warned that the sport could look very different when normal activities eventually resume.

“Our world and our sport is going to be different when we return to normality,” he said. “We have to make sure that football survives and that it can prosper once again.”

Football competitions across much of the world had been suspended as governments introduced restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

At the time, the pandemic had infected close to one million people worldwide and caused more than 47,000 deaths.

Infantino said the crisis required solidarity with those affected by the virus and appreciation for people working on the front line.

“For the first time, football is not the most important thing,” he said. “Health comes first and must continue until this disease is defeated.”

The FIFA president made the remarks while addressing a CONMEBOL congress in Paraguay by video link.