Infantino Faces Calls for Resignation Amidst Controversy
Soccer legend Luis Figo has publicly stated that FIFA President Gianni Infantino “must go,” intensifying pressure on the sport’s chief administrator. This call comes as Infantino held a crisis meeting with top FIFA officials in Rabat, Morocco, following the abandonment of a contentious plan to sell private stakes in the World Cup and other major tournaments.
In an op-ed, Figo, a decorated player with four La Liga titles, a Champions League trophy, and a Ballon d’Or, described Infantino’s conduct as “the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have ever witnessed.” He asserted that the individual attempting to implement such significant changes for personal gain and the benefit of associates should not be part of the game’s future. Figo concluded that while many problems exist within FIFA, the solution is simple: “Infantino must go.”
The soccer community has been in disarray since Infantino and FIFA proposed establishing a separate entity, involving private investors, to manage the commercial and operational rights of the World Cup. This proposal sparked widespread condemnation from fans and various continental and national soccer governing bodies.
UEFA, the European soccer body, was particularly vocal, stating that the “soul and governance of football are not assets to trade.” The strong backlash ultimately compelled Infantino to withdraw the plan. The internal dissent within FIFA was further highlighted by the resignation of one of Infantino’s senior advisers, Carlos Cordeiro, in protest.
European Leagues Demand Governance Reform
The association of European Leagues, which includes prominent competitions such as the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A, also called for governance reform within FIFA. They characterized the abandoned proposal as “dangerous” and indicative of deeper issues concerning the operational methods of world soccer’s governing body.
The organization stated that the plan raised “serious questions about FIFA’s governance, internal culture and decision-making.” They emphasized the need for governance reform to ensure that all relevant stakeholders have a formal role in decisions that shape the future of the sport. The European Leagues also criticized the possibility of further expanding the World Cup to 64 teams, asserting that “FIFA must not be allowed to continue taking unilaterally disruptive decisions.”
Until reforms are implemented, the European Leagues declared they would reject any “expansion or creation” of FIFA competitions. The recent condemnations follow a turbulent week that has brought Infantino’s presidency into question ahead of next year’s elections, where he was reportedly seeking a fourth and final term.
UEFA has exerted significant pressure, even voting to boycott the World Cup if Infantino had proceeded with the controversial plans to sell profits through a commercial subsidiary named FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). Even after Infantino’s reversal, UEFA expressed a loss of confidence in FIFA’s leadership, potentially paving the way for a challenge to his presidency. The governing body for North and Central American and Caribbean soccer, CONCACAF, also stated that FIFA leadership had “stopped putting football first.”
While European, Asian, and North and Central American governing bodies criticized the proposal, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has not yet taken a public stance. According to one report, five significant African soccer administrators have expressed support for Infantino, with African soccer reportedly more reliant on financial distributions from FIFA compared to other continents.
Top FIFA officials, including Arsène Wenger and Secretary-General Mattias Grafström, have distanced themselves from the FFE plans. This further highlighted internal divisions within the organization, which were also evident when Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour reportedly stated that staff felt “deceived” by the president’s lack of transparency. The summit in Rabat on Wednesday was widely reported as a “crisis meeting” amidst growing anticipation of a challenge to Infantino’s presidency in the upcoming election.
Figo further elaborated on his criticism, writing that Infantino “has debased the office of FIFA President that he promised to elevate. He has lied, deceived and tried to feather his own nest at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve.” FIFA previously stated that funds generated from the plan would be reinvested into the sport. However, Figo maintained that the plan was “not a good idea,” citing a lack of transparency regarding the high returns private equity typically seeks and the permanent loss of ownership for future generations once shares are sold.
Source: cnn.com
