Fifa president Gianni Infantino is facing a growing crisis of confidence after leaked plans to sell a stake in the World Cup to private equity investors linked to Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, were met with widespread condemnation. The Guardian's editorial argues that Infantino should resign immediately, as his credibility drains away and football's governing body risks descending into civil war.
Leaked deal sparks outrage
The controversy erupted after documents revealed that Infantino had been in talks to sell a minority stake in the World Cup to a fund backed by Kushner's brother, a move that would have mortgaged the future of the world's most popular sport to speculators. The deal, which was aborted after the leak, would have potentially enriched Infantino personally and undermined Fifa's governance, which already holds billions in reserves.
In a half-hearted apology following crisis talks at Fifa's new headquarters in Rabat, Morocco, Infantino admitted the project "could have been handled differently" but stopped short of taking responsibility. The Guardian's editorial dismisses this as insufficient, stating that the sell-off was "simply a betrayal of the game's interests" and that no handling could have made it acceptable.
Football greats call for resignation
Infantino has faced crushing condemnation from senior Fifa figures and football legends such as Arsène Wenger and Luís Figo, who have called for him to step down. Despite this, he appears determined to brazen out the storm, relying on allies he has cultivated in the global south over his decade in power. Mexico and Argentina, breaking ranks with their regional federation, have joined African nations in expressing support for his continued leadership.
The Guardian editorial highlights that Infantino's survival may depend on Uefa, Europe's football governing body, which on Thursday restated its loss of confidence in his presidency. Norway became the first federation to directly call for Infantino to stand down, and there are threats of a boycott of Fifa-run competitions, starting with the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland next month.
Consequences must follow
The editorial argues that a boycott would be a serious move, but it is a necessary response to Infantino's "serious abuse of power." It points to a pattern of controversy under Infantino, from the dubious award of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar to the suspension of inconvenient red cards, and insists that this time there must be consequences. The statement from Infantino's "Rabat bunker" that Fifa "will no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity" is dismissed as haughty presumption.
Unless Infantino resigns, is forced out, or is ousted via an election next March, the global game is in danger of an ugly civil war, all because of one man's attempt to sell off the family silver. The editorial concludes by urging Infantino to show self-awareness, recalling his mocked "Today I feel gay" and "migrant worker" comments, and to do what is best for the sport he professes to love.
