Gianni Infantino says biennial World Cup plans 'give hope to Africans'

FIFA president Gianni Infantino controversially suggested on Wednesday that changes to football’s calendar might make Africans less likely to migrate to Europe and risk death in the Mediterranean Sea.

The leader of football’s world governing body spoke in support of his organisation’s calendar reforms, which include plans for biennial World Cups, at the Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

He said the proposals were vital to give the football world outside of Europe hope, adding: "We need to give hope to Africans so they don’t need to cross the Mediterranean in order to find, maybe, a better life but more probably death in the sea.

"We need to give opportunities and we need to give dignity, not by giving charity but by allowing the rest of the world to participate."

FIFA has been approached for comment regarding Infantino’s remarks, which were made in a debate before the 47-nation Council adopted a resolution on football governance.

Despite Infantino’s attempts to outline the benefits to global football, the Council concluded that biennial World Cups would be "disastrous" for the sport in Europe.

FIFA is consulting globally over reforms to the international match calendar, but its plans have been met with vocal opposition in Europe. The continental confederation UEFA, the European Club Association and the European Leagues umbrella body have all rejected the concept.

Now the Council has joined the list of critics, with is resolution stating: "The Assembly questions the advisability of the plan currently under consideration by FIFA to hold the World Cup every two years.

"It considers that such a change would have disastrous consequences for European football, which is why both UEFA and the European Leagues are strongly