By Islam El-Sakka
An 11-metre effigy of FIFA president Gianni Infantino will be the centrepiece of Bonfire Night celebrations in Edenbridge, Kent, on 7 November. The giant figure, unveiled on Wednesday, depicts Infantino with cash spilling from his ears.
Effigy details
The statue shows Infantino holding a golden likeness of US President Donald Trump's head, referencing a mock "FIFA Peace Prize." He also clutches a "red card hotline" token and a book titled "Presidents for Dummies" with a line reading "how to make billions." A wheelie bin placed in front contains a Manchester City shirt and a traffic light.
Controversies surrounding Infantino
Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, has faced multiple controversies this year. After the men's World Cup, he planned to seek private investment for a company to run the tournament's commercial affairs, drawing accusations of trying to "sell off" the game. The controversy followed an incident where Trump admitted asking Infantino to review a red card given to American striker Folarin Balogun during the World Cup.
Bonfire Society tradition
Andrea Deans, an effigy creator and co-chair of the Edenbridge Bonfire Society, said she enjoyed moving away from traditional political figures and found Infantino a great subject to caricature. The society has burned giant effigies of celebrities and politicians since 1994, with past targets including Trump, Liz Truss, Harvey Weinstein, Katie Hopkins and Sir Keir Starmer. The town's Bonfire Night celebrations date back nearly 100 years, and Sir Winston Churchill once opened the event.
