Fifa President Infantino chosen as Edenbridge Bonfire effigy

Edenbridge Bonfire Society has unveiled Fifa President Gianni Infantino as the centrepiece effigy for its 2026 annual celebration on Saturday, November 7. The Swiss-Italian football administrator, who has led Fifa since February 2016, was selected following what organisers described as a "string of controversial decisions" that have marked his tenure.

The society cited several controversies surrounding Infantino's leadership, including a proposal to sell private investment stakes in World Cup commercial and broadcast rights—a plan he later scrapped due to widespread opposition. The BBC reported that Infantino also suspended a red card given to United States player Folarin Balogun during the 2026 World Cup at the request of US President Donald Trump, who received the Fifa Peace Prize from Infantino this year. Trump will also feature prominently in the effigy display, marking his near-annual appearance in the society's selections.

The 36-foot (11-metre) effigy of Infantino incorporates multiple symbolic elements. A Manchester City shirt references the club's recent guilty verdict on 114 financial fair play rule violations. Local references include a wheelie bin and traffic lights, nodding to residents' frustrations with new waste collection systems and ongoing roadworks in Edenbridge. A "red card hotline" token and a "Presidents for Dummies" book are also incorporated into the design. Artist Andrea Deans, co-chair of the society and creator of effigies since 2016, completed Infantino's effigy in six days—one day faster than usual.

The Edenbridge Bonfire Society, which has operated since 1928 and celebrated Bonfire Night annually since 1994, will host a torch-lit procession beginning at 6:30 pm, featuring over 1,000 flaming torches, approximately 20 floats, visiting Bonfire Societies, and marching bands. The procession is free to watch; fireworks begin around 8:30 pm. Tickets for the fireworks display cost £9 for adults and £4 for children. Road closures will be in effect from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Previous celebrity effigies have included Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, and Ticketmaster alongside the Oasis duo.