New FIFA President Gianni Infantino sent a "clear message" that his leadership style would be "very different" from his predecessor Sepp Blatter when he flew to his first official overseas appointment by budget airline on Friday, according to Mike Collet of REUTERS. Infantino flew from Geneva to Bristol by easyJet "instead of taking a private plane, which was Blatter's preference." He then "got stuck in traffic" on the 44-mile drive to the Welsh capital, Cardiff, where he is attending the annual meeting of the Int'l FA Board, football's law-making body. Infantino said, "It was the easiest and best option for me. We are normal people and we have to behave like normal people." FIFA's image under Blatter "took an endless hammering because of the scandals that dominated his 17-years as president, and Infantino stressed he would work tirelessly to rebuild FIFA's image as a credible, responsible organisation fit for purpose." First class air travel, the "grandest limousines and nights in the best hotels would all be consigned to the past as the new president implements cost-saving measures." Infantino: "Obviously, there will be occasions when I might need to take a private plane if I have to go to three countries in one day, but everyone in FIFA should be working to optimize the costs. We have to send the right signals. I don't always have to go to a match wearing a suit and tie. I am going to see Swansea play Norwich tomorrow, I won't wear a tie" (REUTERS, 3/4). In London, Ben Rumsby reported Infantino vowed to ensure the process by which all future World Cups are awarded would be completely clean and "absolutely bullet-proof." Infantino gave his "personal guarantee that there would be no repeat of the corruption scandals to taint the award of every tournament" since '98 after an independent inquiry concluded on Friday that Germany may have paid millions of pounds in bribes to beat England and South Africa to stage the '06 event. Infantino confirmed he was "planning to start the bidding process for the 2026 World Cup as soon as possible, despite ongoing criminal inquiries into the discredited contest that saw Russia and Qatar handed the next two tournaments." Infantino won the presidency after pledging to expand the World Cup from 32 to 40 teams, a plan "opposed by Europe's biggest clubs." Admitting he "faced a fight" to deliver on that commitment, he said, "It was in my manifesto. I believe in it. But I'm not a dictator as well. ... Having said that, when I put something in my head, I'm quite -- how shall I say? -- convincing" (TELEGRAPH, 3/5).
