Nicosia: The Executive President of the Pancyprian Footballers’ Association (PASP), Spyros Neophytidis, expressed his full agreement with recent statements made by Sergio Marchi, President of the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO), about the conduct and policies of FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Neophytidis commented on Marchi’s assertion that football belongs to the players rather than Infantino or FIFA. He emphasized that if there are “gods” of football, they are figures like Baresi, Maradona, and Messi, not Infantino. Neophytidis supported Marchi’s viewpoint, stating that Infantino’s strategies are focused on maximizing FIFA’s financial profits rather than enhancing the wellbeing of the game or its players.
Neophytidis also addressed Marchi’s concerns about players being afraid to speak out, often being told to “shut up and play” even under extreme conditions such as 45 degrees Celsius heat. He highlighted that similar issues exist in Cyprus, where matches are frequently scheduled in high temperatures due to broadcasting rights, posing serious health risks to the players.