FIFA president Infantino ‘must go’, says former UEFA boss Platini | Football
Platini Calls for Infantino’s Resignation Amid FIFA Scandals
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Published August 31, 2026
Michel Platini, the former president of UEFA, has called for the resignation of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, citing a series of controversies that have plagued football’s governing body and shaken the sport worldwide.
In an interview published Sunday by a French media outlet, Platini criticized Infantino for his failure to uphold the integrity of the game. “Economic affairs are one thing, but Infantino has failed because he is the guarantor of the rules of the game and he didn’t respect them,” Platini stated.
Infantino’s leadership has come under scrutiny, particularly following a controversial proposal to introduce private investment into FIFA events, including the World Cup. This plan faced significant backlash and was subsequently abandoned. Additionally, the recent World Cup, which was held in North America, was marred by several disputes, including criticisms of hydration breaks that lasted up to four minutes and were reportedly used for advertisements.
Platini specifically referenced issues during the World Cup, including the extended half-time show during the final and the suspension of a red card issued to American player Folarin Balogun, allegedly influenced by a call from President Donald Trump to Infantino. “The ad breaks are not in the rules, the 30-minute half-time break in the final is not in the rules, and the red card, that’s the worst,” Platini said.
He further asserted, “He’s the guarantor [of the rules], he doesn’t respect them, he must go.” Platini, who served as UEFA’s secretary-general during his presidency, has been a vocal critic of Infantino’s administration.
In the wake of these developments, UEFA has threatened to boycott FIFA tournaments until the FIFA Forward Enterprises initiative, which sought private investment, is rescinded. UEFA has also accused Infantino of “criminal mismanagement” concerning the private financing.
FIFA did not respond to requests for comment from Al Jazeera.
Pressure on Infantino is mounting from other regional football bodies, including the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Infantino is preparing for a re-election campaign in March.
Platini expressed skepticism regarding the potential for internal reforms within FIFA. “It won’t be sporting institutions that sort this out and bring him down. If UEFA wants to bring down Infantino, it will be through the courts,” he said. Platini, who has previously faced accusations of fraud related to his own tenure at UEFA, accused Infantino of having an enduring affinity for “money and power.”
Platini was acquitted of wrongdoing in 2025, having been forced to step down from his position in 2015 amid a scandal that led to Infantino’s election as FIFA president. “He didn’t bring me down, he benefitted from it,” Platini claimed, adding, “But now that there are lots of investigations into him all over the world, there is some noise about how he knew about certain things — let’s see what happens next.”
Currently, Platini is pursuing legal action against Infantino, along with former FIFA officials Marco Villiger and Domenico Scala, in France. He seeks compensation for damages resulting from what he describes as tactics to undermine his bid for the FIFA presidency in 2015, accusing them of a “criminal conspiracy” involving false accusations and influence peddling.
