Atletico Madrid's Simeone Proud and 'Peaceful' after Champions League Hopes Dashed Yet Again

FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Tuesday defended World Cup ticket prices, insisting that football's global governing body was obliged to take advantage of US laws that allow tickets to be resold for thousands of dollars above face value.

FIFA has faced searing criticism over the cost of World Cup tickets, with fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) branding the pricing structure "extortionate" and a "monumental betrayal".

FSE filed a lawsuit with the European Commission in March targeting FIFA over "excessive ticket prices" for the tournament.

FIFA's own World Cup resale website, FIFA Marketplace, last week advertised four tickets to the July 19 final in New York at a cost of more than $2 million each.

Speaking at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Infantino said the eye-watering prices reflected demand to watch the World Cup.

"If some people put on the resale market, some tickets for the final at $2 million, number one it doesn't mean that the tickets cost $2 million," AFP quoted Infantino as saying.

"And number two it doesn't mean that somebody will buy these tickets," Infantino said. "And if somebody buys a ticket for the final for $2 million I will personally bring him a hot dog and a Coke to make sure that he has a great experience."

Fan groups have contrasted the difference in price of tickets for this summer with the Qatar World Cup in 2022.

The most expensive ticket for the final in 2022 was around $1,600 at face value, while in 2026 the most expensive ticket for the final is about $11,000 at its original price.

Infantino was adamant that the steep increase in face-value prices were justified.

"We have to look at the market -- we are in the market in which entertainment is the most developed in the world. So we have to apply market rates," Infantino said.

"In the US it is permitted to resell tickets as well. So if you were to sell tickets at the price which is too low, these tickets will be resold at a much higher price.

"And as a matter of fact, even though some people are saying that the ticket prices we have are high, they still end up on the resale market at an even higher price, more than double of our price."

Infantino said that FIFA received in excess of 500 million ticket requests for 2026, compared with fewer than 50 million combined for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The FIFA leader added that 25 percent of tickets for the group phase were priced at under $300.

"You cannot go to watch in the US a college game, not even speaking about a top professional game of a certain level, for less than $300," Infantino said. "And this is the World Cup."

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro says Michael Carrick has already shown he has all the qualities to be a great manager at the club and backed calls for the former England international to be given the role on a permanent basis.

Carrick was handed the interim role until the end of the season ⁠after the club ⁠sacked Ruben Amorim in January following a turbulent 14-month spell.

United have won 10 of their 14 matches under Carrick, including victories over Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool ⁠and Chelsea, to climb to third in the Premier League and seal a berth in next season's Champions League.

"I think he's a guy who has already demonstrated that he has very good qualities to be a Manchester United coach," Reuters quoted Casemiro as telling ESPN Brazil.

"Of course, the ⁠season ⁠is year-round. But since he arrived, he's been doing an incredible job and I think that with more time, he has everything to be a great manager of Manchester United."

United are third on 64 points with three league matches remaining and travel to Sunderland on Saturday.

Sidelined with a hamstring injury, Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe has sparked anger among a section of the club's supporters after a holiday in Sardinia, triggering a fresh media storm ahead of Sunday's Clasico against Barcelona.

For many Madrid fans, the striker's Italian getaway - during rest days granted by Real Madrid to injured players, including Mbappe, Thibaut Courtois and Arda Guler - was the final straw.

United behind a shared image showing Mbappe with a "Fuera (out)" stamp over his face - originally posted by a satirical account and reposted in the comments section of Real Madrid's official posts - some fans are openly calling for the French superstar to leave.

An online petition has also been circulating on social networks, urging Madrid fans to "make their voices heard".

"If you believe change is necessary, do not remain silent: sign this petition and defend what you believe is best for the future of the club," it reads.

Fuel was added to the fire by widely shared photos of Mbappe alongside actress Ester Exposito, posted on social media as Real Madrid were preparing for a crucial La Liga match against Espanyol last weekend in an effort to delay Barcelona's title celebrations.

Real Madrid won that match 2-0, and coach Alvaro Arbeloa later insisted that "each player does what they consider appropriate in their free time" and that it was "none of my business."

However, several of his comments were perceived as indirect criticism of his leading scorer.

- ‘Sweat and mud, not tuxedos’ -

"We didn't build Real Madrid with players who play in tuxedos, but with players who finish matches with shirts full of sweat and mud, through effort and sacrifice," he said.

Madrid is "a club where, fortunately, no player has ever been, is, or ever will be bigger than Real Madrid," added Arbeloa.

Contacted by AFP, Mbappe's entourage said "part of the criticism is based on an over-interpretation of elements linked to a recovery period that is strictly supervised by the club", and bears no relation to "the reality of the commitment and daily work Kylian puts in for the team".

The France captain, accustomed to sometimes excessive scrutiny, addressed his mindset earlier this season on The Bridge, a podcast hosted by his Real Madrid and France teammate Aurelien Tchouameni.

"I've reached a point where you're going to get criticized whatever you do, so you might as well do what you want - at least then you stay true to yourself," Mbappe said.

- Isolated in dressing room? -

With 41 goals in 41 matches in all competitions this season, Mbappe remains by far Real Madrid's leading scorer. He has nonetheless come under heavy criticism since returning from injury in mid-March, with some observers accusing him of an overly individualistic approach.

According to Spanish media, Mbappe - frustrated by a second season at Madrid without a major trophy - is becoming increasingly isolated in the dressing room, despite having established himself as a leader earlier in the campaign.

Some fans and pundits have pointed to post-match comments from fellow stars Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham after Sunday's win as signs of a growing rift with the France captain.

"We fought and we played together. When we play like that, we are better and stronger," Vinicius told Real Madrid TV, while Bellingham urged his teammates on Instagram to stay "together" and fully committed "until the very last whistle" of the season.

Friendly exchanges between Vinicius and Bellingham on social media - the pair won the Champions League together before Mbappe's arrival - have further fueled speculation of a new clash of egos within the Madrid squad.

Click here to read article