The Edenbridge Bonfire Society in Kent has created a 36-foot effigy of FIFA President Gianni Infantino for their annual celebration.. The sculpture depicts Infantino holding the head of Donald Trump, critiquing the relationship between the football chief and the former US President .
The 36-foot caricature of Gianni Infantino
The towering figure of FIFA President Gianni Infantino is laden with symbolic critiques of his administration. According to the report, the effigy features dollar bills tucked into the ears of the FIFA chief and a book titled 'President for Dummies: How to make billions' protruding from a pocket. The sculpture also includes a 'Red Card Hotline' pass and a 2026 FIFA World Cup pass, signaling the intersection of sporting governance and financial gain.
This massive structure was the work of Andrea Deans, a creator who has been designing these figures since 2016. Deans completed the Gianni Infantino sculpture in just six days, a timeline slightly faster than the usual week-long production cycle for the Edenbridge Bonfire Society's annual displays.
The Folarin Balogun red card and Trump's influence
The decision to target Gianni Infantino stems from allegations of political interference in football. As the source reported, Infantino faced intense criticism for suspending a red card issued to US player Folarin Balogun during a recent World Cup, a move that allegedly occurred at the specific request of Donald Trump.
Beyond the pitch, the effigy reflects accusations that Gianni Infantino attempted to leverage his relationship with the Donald Trump administration to secure a work permit for an undocumented Nicaraguan housekeeper. By depicting Donald Trump with a "sheepish grin" on a trophy plinth, the Edenbridge Bonfire Society is visually arguing that FIFA's leadership is overly beholden to US political power.
From Boris Johnson to Ticketmaster's dynamic priccing
The targeting of Gianni Infantino is part of a long-standing tradition in Edenbridge of using Bonfire Night to air political and social grievances. The Edenbridge Bonfire Society has previously constructed effigies of high-profile figures including former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson , London Mayor Sadiq Khan, and current Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The latter was targeted following Labour's changes to inheritance tax that affected the farming community.
This trend of using public art for corporate and political critique extended to the private sector when the society targeted Ticketmaster during the public outcry over dynamic pricing. Even local issues are integrated into the spectacle; this year's 36-foot structure includes a wheelie bin and traffic lights to protest Edenbridge's rubbish collection and roadwork frustrations.
FIFA's silence on the Nicaraguan housekeeper claims
While the effigy makes bold claims about the relationship between Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump, several key details remain unverified. the report focuses entirely on the perspective of the Edenbridge Bonfire Society, leaving it unclear if FIFA or the office of Donald Trump have issued formal denials regarding the Folarin Balogun red card incident or the housekeeper's work permit request.
1,000 flaming torches and the Saturday road closures
The event will culminate in a massive public procession involving 1,000 flaming torches and 20 floats accompanied by marching bands. to ensure safety and accommodate the crowds, all roads leading into Edenbridge will be closed starting at 6pm on Saturday.
The festivities are scheduled to begin 30 minutes after the road closures, starting with the burning of the traditional Guy Fawkes figure and the central 36-foot Gianni Infantino effigy, marking a fiery end to the society's political commentary.
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