Donald Trump hijacks Spain World Cup trophy lift and breaks FIFA protocol | Football | Sport
Donald Trump awkwardly hijacked Spain’s World Cup trophy lift as he and FIFA president Gianni Infantino handed the title to captain Rodri, before staying for the celebratory hoisting of the silverware. He gave out medals to both teams, giving Lionel Messi a runner-up prize before gifting the victorious Spanish stars a warm smile and their medal.
But when he and Infantino took the trophy over to the waiting Spain squad, they actually broke FIFA protocol in the process. Then the pair stuck around for the lift while captain Rodri and the rest of the group waited several moments to find out if Trump and Infantino would leave.
Officials of fellow co-hosts Canada and Mexico were in attendance, but Trump raised eyebrows when he came onto the pitch and then gave the trophy over to Rodri.
FIFA protocol is typically for the trophy to remain on a plinth and to be carried over by a member of the winning squad to the podium, often the captain.
But Trump, who was loudly booed both before kick-off and when shown on the large screens inside the stadium before the presentation, was offered the chance to take the trophy over by Infantino, who guided him to the Spain team.
He lingered in the middle of the platform before being ushered off to the side by Infantino, who laughed at the moment, before Rodri eventually lifted the Jules Rimet trophy with Trump a few paces away.
Infantino confirmed last month that Trump would present the trophy to the tournament winners.
“That’s always been the plan,” he said. “That’s how it’s always been done in the past – the president of the country where the final is held presents the trophy together with the FIFA president.”
Similar scenes took place last year when Chelsea won the Club World Cup, also held in the United States.
He stood next to Reece James when the England right-back lifted the trophy, leaving the players very confused at the time.
“They told me that he was going to present the trophy and then exit the stage, and I thought that he was going to exit the stage, but he wanted to stay,” James explained.
