A Crisis of Confidence at FIFA
Former Real Madrid and Barcelona star Luís Figo has launched an extraordinary public attack on FIFA President Gianni Infantino, calling for his immediate resignation. In a scathing open letter, the Portuguese football icon accused the FIFA leader of “deceitful” behavior and argued that Infantino’s tenure has profoundly damaged the integrity of the sport.
The criticism follows a failed attempt by Infantino to sell a 20% stake in the World Cup’s commercial rights through an entity dubbed “FIFA Forward Enterprise.” The proposal, which was kept from the broader membership until after the World Cup final, faced a massive backlash from continental confederations. The plan was ultimately abandoned after UEFA and other governing bodies threatened to boycott the tournament if the privatization proceeded.
Transparency and Governance Failures
Figo, currently serving as an adviser to UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, highlighted a pattern of what he termed “cravenly self-interested behavior.” Central to his argument is the lack of transparency regarding the financial deal. Figo questioned why members were not consulted on the risks of private equity involvement, noting that the plan would have allegedly secured a $30 million-a-year position for Infantino himself.
“I have met some rogues in my time in the game,” Figo wrote. “But what I have seen exposed in the last 10 days is the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have ever witnessed.” He further accused the president of prioritizing personal relationships over the laws of the game, citing instances of suspended disciplinary decisions and unauthorized alterations to official match-day protocols.
Mounting Institutional Pressure
The call for resignation is part of a broader collapse in support for the FIFA president. Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, president of the Jordan Football Association, has publicly accused FIFA of blackmailing member federations by threatening to withhold financial assistance if they failed to support Infantino’s re-election bid. Furthermore, high-ranking officials within FIFA, including the head of global football development, Arsene Wenger, have distanced themselves from the administration’s recent maneuvers.
As Infantino reportedly holds emergency talks in Morocco to stabilize his position, the English and Welsh Football Associations have joined the ranks of those withdrawing their support. With UEFA signaling the possibility of legal action, the pressure on the 56-year-old president is unprecedented, leaving his leadership status in significant doubt.