FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
| Picture Credit score: AP
Former Actual Madrid and Barcelona star Luis Figo has referred to as for “deceitful” Gianni Infantino to stop as stress mounts on the under-fire FIFA president.
Infantino is preventing to save lots of his job after a fierce backlash towards his plan to dump stakes within the World Cup.
The 56-year-old wished to promote a 20% stake within the World Cup to non-public fairness traders by way of his FIFA Ahead Enterprise.
The plan sparked a cascade of criticism for Infantino and has been rejected by three continental confederations, forcing the FIFA chief to ditch his divisive concept.
In a bid to win again help after his divisive plot, Infantino held emergency talks with different FIFA administrators in Morocco on Wednesday, a supply instructed AFP.
However former Portugal ahead Figo heaped stress on Infantino as he blasted the plan and demanded his resignation.
“I might write 10,000 phrases on the issues at FIFA. However the resolution wants solely three: Infantino should go,” Figo wrote within the Day by day Mail on Wednesday (August 5, 2026).
“I’ve beloved soccer all my life. I used to be an expert participant for 20 years. And consider me, I’ve met some rogues in my time within the sport.
“However what I’ve seen uncovered within the final 10 days is the bottom, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I’ve ever witnessed.
“The person who would do this — the person who would attempt to pressure by way of such main modifications simply to complement himself and his mates — is a relic of the sport’s previous and should not have any half in its future.”
Infantino had defended his proposal by claiming it might improve income for all FIFA member nations.
However his try and rush by way of the deal with out consulting Soccer Associations the world over, together with issues about probably enjoying an elevated World Cup each two years as an alternative of each 4, sparked a livid backlash.
A number of senior FIFA officers — together with former Arsenal supervisor Arsene Wenger — have lambasted Infantino’s behaviour.
Figo, who pulled out of the race to turn out to be FIFA president in 2015, desires Infantino to step down instantly moderately than await his try and be re-elected subsequent 12 months.
“Infantino has debased the workplace of FIFA president that he promised to raise,” mentioned Figo, who gained a number of trophies in his glittering enjoying profession.
“He has lied, deceived and tried to feather his personal nest on the expense of the sport he’s presupposed to serve.”
The 53-year-old added: “He has misplaced the help of his senior employees, his closest advisers, the overwhelming majority of people that commit their lives to this sport and even, it might appear, the FIFA Peace Prize winner (U.S. President Donald Trump).
“It’s too late to save lots of his dignity however it isn’t too late to save lots of soccer. He ought to go. Now.”
Revealed – August 06, 2026 02:20 am IST
