Fifa president Gianni Infantino is battling to save his presidency as senior football figures and federation leaders move against him over his controversial plan to sell a stake in the World Cup. According to reports in the Times, Infantino has been 'holed up' in Salé, Morocco, this week, with aides frantically calling Fifa Legends—the organisation's paid ex-player ambassadors—to secure public support.
Figo's blistering attack
On Wednesday, former Portugal international Luís Figo broke his silence, condemning Infantino's proposal as 'the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have ever witnessed.' Figo, a Fifa Legend, declared: 'Infantino must go,' in a stark rebuke that signals the depth of the revolt.
The leaders of Uefa, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Federation are reportedly massing forces, considering a 'governance boycott' where members refuse to attend meetings or ratify Fifa decisions. A rival World Cup-style competition, which would amount to secession, is the nuclear option on the table.
Why now? A history of controversies
The timing raises questions, as Infantino has faced numerous scandals over the years. Nearly eight years ago, Fifa first proposed selling off a slice of its commercial legacy. In 2018, Infantino agreed in principle a deal with Japanese firm Softbank—whose main financial backer is Saudi Arabia's public investment fund—for an expanded Club World Cup and global Nations League. That scheme sputtered to a halt with little of the outcry seen now.
Four years on from the Qatar World Cup, Infantino's 'today I feel gay' speech made him a figure of ridicule. Two years ago, Saudi Arabia were handed the 2034 tournament in a bidding process with no apparent competition. Three years ago, the Club World Cup was pushed through despite player welfare concerns. Two months ago, referee Omar Artan was denied entry to a World Cup he was supposed to officiate. One month ago, Folarin Balogun had his suspension overturned in a supposedly independent process.
A 'mafia family'
Former FA chair Lord Triesman described Fifa as a 'mafia family' over a decade ago, and that description still rings true. Fifa operates as a supralegal body, bound by its own rules and moral code, sustained by a feudal system of tribute and protection, resistant to change except through occasional mob-style decapitation.
The moral objections to Infantino's investment plan are clear, but the economic illiteracy is striking. One hand-picked buyer (Joshua Kushner), one made-up number ($20 billion), and an artificial countdown clock (19 September) suggest this is not about fetching the best price but about securing personal largesse while statutorily bound to one more term.
A loyalty test
Infantino's rule-bending has been a loyalty test, a way to show billionaire investors he is one of them. His first instinct when cornered was reportedly to appeal to Donald Trump, a kindred spirit in style. Critics argue Infantino is a symptom of a deeper disease: a disdain for humanity and a belief in rule by the elite.
Football, the world's greatest mass pursuit, will endure, adapting like the Salé skyline. But the old waterfront is gone forever, and the sport's governance remains under a cloud of corruption and self-interest.
