Gianni Infantino effigy burned during England’s Lewes Bonfire celebrations

An enormous effigy of FIFA president Gianni Infantino was set alight in front of tens of thousands of people during England’s traditional Guy Fawkes Night celebrations.

The figure was burned as part of the annual Lewes Bonfire event, held on 5 November in the town of Lewes in southern England. The celebrations feature street processions carrying oversized caricatures of public figures before they are destroyed in a ceremonial display.

Infantino was depicted wearing an Argentina shirt, alongside another giant figure representing Andy Burnham, the British prime minister. The scene reflected the strength of criticism directed at the FIFA president in some English football circles.

The choice of Infantino was linked to continuing anger in England over the team’s elimination by Argentina in the semi-finals of the most recent World Cup. That match was accompanied by controversy over the refereeing decisions.

Some of Infantino’s English critics have also accused him of showing excessive closeness to the Argentina national team and of favouring its interests. Those accusations made the FIFA president a target for mockery during the Lewes celebrations.

The display took place four years after Lionel Messi and his Argentina team-mates won the World Cup, and four months after England lost the semi-final to Argentina in the final minutes.

The Lewes Bonfire tradition is held every year and is known for its satirical treatment of prominent public figures. The burning of the Infantino effigy brought football-related grievances into an event otherwise centred on political and public commentary.