1982 Italy winner Collovati slams Infantino: ‘He should be ashamed, the World Cup is a joke’

Fulvio Collovati has launched a fierce attack on FIFA president Gianni Infantino over the expanded 48-team World Cup format, with the 1982 World Cup winner accusing the governing body’s chief of prioritising business over sporting merit and calling on him to show greater respect to Italian football.

The former Inter and Milan defender was scathing about both Infantino’s recent comments regarding Italy’s absence from the tournament and the quality of some of the nations taking part.

“He should be ashamed, Infantino,” Collovati said, with quotes via FCInter1908.

“First he acts as a friend of Italian footballers, then he delivers these low blows. If he wants to criticise Italian football, let him do so openly.”

On Infantino’s suggestion that Italy might qualify if the tournament expanded to 64 teams, Collovati was dismissive.

“Jokes that don’t make people laugh are not jokes,” he said. “Since he has Swiss citizenship, next time he should joke with the Swiss.”

His most damning verdict, however, was reserved for the format itself. “The real joke, if anything, is the 48-team World Cup, with national teams inside who do not play football,” he said.

“I commented on Mexico vs South Africa on the radio, and in South Africa I could play myself at my age. On Sunday I will comment on Germany vs Curacao and I expect a similar situation.”

Journalist Alessandro Alciato added further controversy by resurfacing an old quote from Collovati in which he claimed women cannot understand football tactics, a reminder that the former defender himself has not been without controversy in recent years.