New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo said he is “99.9% OK” following a gruesome leg and ankle injury last season.

That’s in spite of an ill-advised backflip that was caught on camera a few weeks back.

Skattebo owned up to what he called a “dumb” decision to perform a backflip while attending Fanatics Fest in New York, indicating he wasn’t likely to strain himself in that way again as he finishes his recovery.

He landed awkwardly on the right ankle that required surgery last fall, though in a relief to the Giants’ staff and front office, it did not result in a setback in his recovery.

“Obviously I do some dumb things here and there, but I learn from it,” Skattebo told reporters Friday at the Giants’ training camp in White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. “My coach talked to me, told me how he felt, and I learned from it. And will I go do that backflip again? Probably not. We live and we learn, and we move on.”

Skattebo, an emerging character in the NFL, was not ready to quash the idea of ever flipping again. It’s a different story when it comes to celebrating a touchdown, for example.

“When game time comes around, we’ll see (when) game time comes around,” Skattebo said. “But right now, we’re focused on training camp, and we’ll keep the backflips off the field for now.”

Skattebo, 24, had his promising rookie season cut short when he was injured Oct. 26 against the Philadelphia Eagles. He played in eight games, starting the final five leading up to his injury, and rushed for 410 yards and five touchdowns.

Skattebo also caught flak for participating in a WWE “Monday Night Raw” show the following month, weeks removed from surgery.

His new head coach, John Harbuagh, and New York general manager Joe Schoen were less than pleased when they found out about the July 18 backflip.

“He’s a young man that’s still getting used to the spotlight and in New York City and you got to be conscious of your actions, not only from a health standpoint, but a perception standpoint,” Schoen said earlier this week. “But he knows I’d rather him not do that, especially this close to camp. But also a testament to how good of a job our training staff did and medical staff did in terms of getting him back and ready to go here as we start camp.”

Asked for his initial reaction to the video, Schoen replied, “I think (Harbaugh) said, ‘If you’re going to do it, at least land it, you know?'”

Skattebo’s goal is to be ready for Week 1 and lead the Giants’ backfield in his sophomore NFL campaign. But he is also likely to stay true to himself and his personality.

“People say I’m the people’s guy, so I’m going to continue to be people’s guy,” Skattebo said. “Giving kids high fives, you never know when that kid’s going to cry because he got a high five from me. I’m going to continue to be who I am and hopefully make everybody happy around me and continue to be positive.

“If a kid wants a backflip, he’ll see the backflip when it’s touchdown time.”

–Field Level Media

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has scrapped his controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.

Facing backlash throughout the sport, a World Cup boycott from Europe and criticism from high-ranking officials inside FIFA itself, Infantino said the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise project “will not proceed.”

The news came Friday night with the governing body releasing a statement “attributable to the FIFA President.”

“The FIFA Forward Enterprise project was intended to provide a basis for further strengthening our FIFA Member Associations and our sport worldwide, especially in those countries where support is most needed,” the statement read. “And more so, as we said from the outset, to do this only if a majority of the FIFA Member Associations were in support and always subject to a consultation process with them, the FIFA Council, the Confederations and wider stakeholders.

“Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.

“Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve.

“As a result, this proposal will not proceed.”

The statement ended with Infantino saying he plans to “bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks” with the goal of discussing ways to grow the sport of soccer globally.

Infantino’s concession concluded a tumultuous week. The proposal was introduced just Tuesday, with FIFA projecting tens of billions in new investment by bringing together its commercial rights — encompassing broadcast, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing — under a new commercial venture and selling stakes in that venture to private equity.

Infantino had defended his plan as beneficial for member nations that could access increased development money. FIFA also argued that outside investors wouldn’t have an operational role in the tournament and would invest in a subsidiary rather than FIFA itself.

That didn’t soften what many saw as an attempt to hand minority ownership in the world’s biggest tournament to private investors with their own aims.

Member nations of UEFA (Europe’s governing body) voted to boycott World Cups moving forward if the plan went through. Members of CONCACAF, representing North America, Central America and the Caribbean, also “unequivocally” rejected the proposition.

Carlos Cordeiro, the senior adviser to Infantino for the past five years, resigned earlier Friday in protest of the FIFA Forward Enterprise plans. Cordeiro, 70, is the former president of U.S. Soccer (2018-20) and a Goldman Sachs banker before that.

“Let me be clear: I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally. It is a bad deal for FIFA’s Member Associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game,” Cordeiro wrote in a lengthy statement concerning his resignation.

“Football has been central to my life, and after more than 35 years in banking, I understand both the value of this asset and the consequences of giving part of it away. That is why this proposal should be rejected.”

Cordeiro pointed out that FIFA “sits on billions of dollars in reserves” and carries no debt as an organization.

“If Member Associations believe additional investment is needed to develop the game, FIFA already has the financial capacity to provide that support from its existing resources,” Cordeiro said. “Against that backdrop, selling a permanent stake in football’s most valuable asset to raise $4.2 billion makes little sense. It is mortgaging football’s future without any compelling justification.”

Meanwhile, the chief operating officer of FIFA also blasted Infantino’s desire to introduce private investors into the tournament’s financing, calling it “the project of one person.”

Kevin Lamour said in a statement to the Associated Press that staff inside FIFA felt “deceived” by Infantino and the opaque nature of the process, adding they “deserve better than contempt and intimidation.”

“It is the project of one person,” Lamour wrote. “Not only must this project not go ahead … but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions.”

The Frenchman went on to add, “And if that means I lose my job then so be it. I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.”

Lamour campaigned for Infantino in the 2016 FIFA presidential election.

–Field Level Media

The Vancouver Whitecaps will be in a battle to keep hold of the top spot in the Western Conference when they host Los Angeles FC on Saturday night.

The Whitecaps (10-3-3, 33 points) hold matches in hand over LAFC and the San Jose Earthquakes immediately below them, but have returned from the World Cup break in middling form.

After dealing with Canadian Premier League side Cavalry FC in the Canadian Championship — earning a win and a draw in the set — the defending conference champions fell 4-3 at FC Cincinnati and fought Minnesota United to a scoreless draw on the road.

To further complicate matters, the team confirmed the sale of Sebastian Berhalter to Middlesbrough on Tuesday, leaving a hole in the midfield that has yet to be filled.

“It’s not a big surprise for me,” Vancouver head coach Jesper Sorensen said in a press conference that day. “It’s not in the short term strengthening us because Sebastian was playing at such a high level, but we also know that when people leave, it will open up opportunities for others.”

On the flip side, Vancouver has been strengthened by the returns of Designated Player and captain Ryan Gauld and left back Sam Adekugbe from lengthy injury-induced absences — the latter played his first competitive match in 419 days when he subbed on late against Minnesota on July 25.

The Whitecaps also bolstered their depth with the acquisition of Canadian international forward Kwasi Poku from Belgian side RWDM Brussels on Thursday.

In contrast, they will face a Los Angeles team (10-5-3, 33 points) in faultless form since its return. Son Heung-Min and Denis Bouanga have terrorized opposition defenses, helping the Black and Gold outscore their opponents 10-1 in July en route to three wins.

Both head to Vancouver on three-match scoring runs, Bouanga nabbing a brace and an assist in a 4-0 win against Sporting Kansas City in their last outing. Son netted two goals in the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday and was named MVP.

“When he came back from the World Cup, there was a lot of talk of us getting a Sonny that mentally was not in a good place,” LAFC head coach Marc Dos Santos said. “But I always said… inside our bubble here, I never felt him with a lack of focus or confidence.”

The match will mark the two teams’ first encounter since last year’s conference semifinals — won by the Whitecaps — and Dos Santos’ first clash against his former team.

–Field Level Media