Back to the Sunderland Newsfeed

FIFA president Gianni Infantino sad at Sam Allardyce's England exit but vows third-party ownership crackdown

FIFA president Gianni Infantino says he was saddened by Sam Allardyce's departure from the England job after just one game, but promised to crack down on third-party ownership of players.

Allardyce's comments to undercover reporters about circumventing FA rules preventing private investors from owning part of a player's economic rights were a principal reason behind his departure last month.

'I was surprised,' said Infantino, speaking at the re-opening of Windsor Park in Belfast.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino watches Northern Ireland take on San Marino on Saturday
FIFA president Gianni Infantino watches Northern Ireland take on San Marino on Saturday
Earlier in the dayu00a0Infantino (right) spoke withu00a0IAAF President Sebastian Coe inu00a0Switzerland
Earlier in the day Infantino (right) spoke with IAAF President Sebastian Coe in Switzerland

'Then I felt very sad because when stories like this come out, it's not good for football.