Jacob Colley

On Thursday, I made my first appearance on ITV Border's Lookaround. Here is a snippet of what went out on tele. I also edited an extended version for our website 👇 itv.com/news/border/20…

The Adoration of the Maga. A few thoughts. It all felt a step too far by Gianni Infantino. The award of the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize felt more to do with its president’s desire to please powerful politicians as much as Donald Trump’s love of such glitzy, expensive offerings of loyalty last seen in medieval courts. It felt more about politics than sport, a risky game for Fifa to play whenever it wants to bring a national association into line for perceived interference by government in the future. The Trump trophy weakens Fifa statutes. It also distracted from the real trophy, the World Cup, and the group-stage draw, traditionally a celebration about bringing countries together. Infantino took his eye off the balls. A football draw designed to work out who plays who and (eventually) where and when is not the time or place for such politics. Infantino wasn’t speaking for the world in bestowing the Peace Prize, as he claimed. So presumptuous. So out of touch. Many probably agree that Trump has been a force for good in geopolitics, some might disagree. Most would probably feel such decisions should be left to experienced experts like the Nobel Committee and, please, can we get on with a football draw. It’s spectacularly naïve or simply arrogant for Fifa to enter such non-football areas. It feels more and more that this was as much an Infantino initiative as Fifa’s. Infantino was supposed to drain the swamp when he arrived at Fifa in 2016 in the wake of assorted corruption scandals bedevilling the governing body of world football. How fitting that the nadir of Infantino’s propensity for self-aggrandisement as leader of what’s supposed to be a team game came in Washington. It was there that Trump promised to transform politics with his “drain the swamp” rhetoric, also in 2016. The selfie moment was particularly cringe-worthy. Infantino forgets that football is the star of the show, not a 55-year lawyer. A senior football executive, who’s been at the heart of the English and European game for more than 20 years, messaged me during the drawn-out draw with his verdict on Infantino. “I feel revulsion, anger, shame, disgust – how has our sport been taken over by a Swiss ***** and turned into a total travesty???” He also pointed out that ensuring the leaders of USA, Mexico and Canada each somehow pulled out their own country’s name was not a good look for a draw based on chance. Great for the cameras, though. Flash, bang, wallop, what a picture of Infantino's priorities. And who gets the next FIFA Peace Prize? And wouldn't Infantino have gained more respect had he used the money for the Trump trophy to subsidise excessive ticket costs? He's lost sight of what should be the real priorities for the leader of football. The game. It's sad, really. Many sensible people work at Fifa, passionate about the game not their own ego, but it's alarming what happens to the leadership when they take power there. Even the great football manager Arsene Wenger has changed since becoming Chief of Global Football Development at Fifa. He now campaigns for more games, backing the expanded World Cup, which he would have railed against as a widely-admired, free-thinking club manager, fiercely protective of his players' well-being. "I believe that 48 teams is the right number." Arsene, just listen to yourself. Many fans probably won’t lose much sleep that Wenger dances to Fifa's tune or that Infantino cosies up to Trump, Aramco and co. Some probably think Fifa’s a video game. Most just can’t wait for the football. The game’s about Mbappe and Messi, Haaland and Salah, Kane and Dembele, not Infantino and Trump. The game’s about the Tartan Army, the brilliant Mexican following, the ever-hopeful English, the mobile carnival of Brazilians and the millions of other fans flocking to venue cities next summer, only a third with tickets. The USA is prepared for the party. I covered USA 94 and you couldn’t really tell there was a tournament on, certainly where I was in Detroit, Chicago and DC. You will this time, also in Canada. Mexico's total immersion was never in doubt given their passion for the game. Infantino should remember this. He runs a great football organisation, not a political organisation. He needs to re-focus. Fifa is undeniably a force for good in many countries. The Fifa Foundation runs a new community programme that supports 154,924 people in 54 nations. Its new Digital Education Programme works on computer literacy amongst disadvantaged groups, helping them into the workplace. It’s easy to say it’s all about Infantino (Foundation board president), soft power and ensuring he keeps countries onside, voting for him, but the Foundation undeniably changes lives. Infantino needs to look at his Adoration of the Maga and remember what he should be doing for football: serving it, not himself. #FIFAWorldCup.

@RebeccaHenrys @LBC Well done Becky!

𝟮𝟱/𝟮𝟲 𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗧 𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗬! 🟣🟡 How to enter: 1️⃣ - Like and retweet this post 2️⃣ - follow @potterslive_ 3️⃣ - Tag two mates in the comment The winner will be announced on the 5th July, 6PM. Good luck!

@BarnabyPap @iona_hampson @sarahirwilson2 @IzzyLosseff Well done BP! 👏

Pleased to have been highly commended in this category - congratulations to @iona_hampson @sarahirwilson2 and the fabulous @IzzyLosseff

@CiaranITV @itvnews @itvmeridian Smashed it mate, well played!

I made my Evening News debut tonight on a rather bizarre story about a £2.8m gold toilet being stolen from Blenheim Palace. An "audacious" raid carried out in just 5 minutes! @itvnews @itvmeridian

1/3 I remember a few months ago watching the Fans Forum and feeling positive and optimistic about the great relationship that Walters and Coates were showing (faking) to have with Schumacher, and how much the fans were fully buying into what he was building…

I'll be on CRFM shortly speaking to Mally Chung before a guest mix yourcrfm.co.uk/radiochannel/d…

@taylorson_jade @BBCRadio4 So proud ❤️

Full report on @BBCRadio4's You and Yours (listen from 42:38) bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0… bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Delighted so say I'll be on BBC local radio tonight talking about my Glastonbury gig. You can hear it at 8.25pm on @bbcmerseyside, @BBC_Cumbria, @BBCManchester, @Radio_Newcastle, @BBCTees and @BBCLancashire. You can listen here 👇 bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/li… #Glastonbury2024

❤️

@OwenD97 @TheGlastoThingy Honey Dijon 2330-0130 on Saturday will be disco

@TheGlastoThingy recommendations for late night soul/funk/disco? Either stages or artists. Always feel like I just wander after the main acts are finished

@HannahMcITV @secretglasto No idea what you're talking about

@secretglasto @JakeColley22

Pretending to care in the work meeting when you log off for Glasto in 4 hours

How often do you read the T&Cs? The wedding directory UKbride has been given the go-ahead by a court to sue more than 100 of its own customers after they didn't read the small print. Full report at the start of the programme: bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0…

So gutted for Rory #usopen

@lucy_itv @ITVborder @itvnews @itvtynetees @GMB @GranadaReports We are lucky to have you!

🚨Job news🚨 Delighted to share that I will be joining @ITVborder as an On-Screen Journalist from July. First - a busy few weeks finishing the @itvnews traineeship at @itvtynetees , @GMB @GranadaReports In the meantime, you can send your stories to lucy.anderson@itv.com

Set times for Jungle Boogie in #workington on Saturday. Looking forward to this! #carlisledj #djgig

@MisraAndrew @itvnews @itvtynetees @ITVborder @GranadaReports @Channel4News Good luck mate, I'm sure you'll smash it!

The end of 5 terrific years @itvnews. From training @itvtynetees ➡️ @itvborder ➡️ @GranadaReports via the fantastic team at the Millbank ‘finishing school’ - a special journey. Sad to leave but very excited to head back up north to join the brilliant @Channel4News. 📺

The Chief Exec of NHS Dumfries and Galloway told me ‘thousands’ of people could be affected as patient data published on the dark web More @ITVborder at 6

Tonight on @ITVborder we speak to the family of Galashiels man Joop Sparkes who’s missing in Prague. He’s believed to have gone overboard whilst on a boat trip at the weekend - his girlfriend and sister are in the Czech capital searching for him. #itvnews

@alex4peneast It's a disgraceful situation that needs addressing. I had a similar realisation a few months ago.

Yesterday I payed off my student loan, whilst I’m pleased, it’s worth highlighting what a ridiculous and frankly shameful situation student loans have become. A🧵 below on how student loans have become a money making racket, its long term problems and alternatives: