FIFA chief Infantino hails Leicester's 'beautiful football story'

Budapest (AFP) – FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Tuesday hailed Leicester City’s unlikely English Premier League triumph as a “fairytale” come true.

“It’s a fairytale. It’s one of these beautiful football stories that only football can write and no one would have believed possible at the beginning of the season,” Infantino told reporters on the sidelines of the UEFA congress in Budapest.

“Not only does it make the Leicester fans very happy and very proud but all football fans because this is the magic of football.

“So big, big, big congratulations to the club, to (Claudio) Ranieri, to the players. They have their place in the Champions League on sporting merit.”

Ranieri’s side, considered one of the candidates for relegation at the start of the season, clinched the English title on Monday when second-placed Tottenham Hotspur failed to beat Chelsea to stay in the race.