Former Real Madrid and Barcelona star Luis Figo has called for “deceitful” Gianni Infantino to quit as pressure mounts on the under-fire FIFA president.
Key Factors
The 56-year-old wanted to sell a 20% stake in the World Cup to private equity investors through his FIFA Forward Enterprise. Infantino had defended his proposal by claiming it would increase revenue for all FIFA member nations.
“Infantino has debased the office of FIFA president that he promised to elevate,” said Figo, who won a host of trophies in his glittering playing career. In a bid to win back support after his divisive plot, Infantino held emergency talks with other FIFA directors in Morocco on Wednesday, a source told AFP.
Evidence and Data
Reuters reported that five European federations — England (FA), Wales, Serbia, Sweden and Finland — have formally withdrawn earlier letters of support for Infantino’s re-election. Wenger’s statement on the controversy came after a letter from UEFA’s lawyers to Infantino threatening legal action named the French coaching great among 18 executives whose data and communications should be retained as potential evidence. Infantino withdrew his $20 billion proposal early on Saturday (August 1) after a furious backlash by global soccer officials, including European body UEFA warning of a boycott of all FIFA games and events.
Denmark’s federation, which didn’t support him earlier too, said it was never going to back him in any case. The Football Association of Wales, which broke first, cited “recent failures in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgement”. The English FA, in a statement, called for “a full and robust review of Fifa’s leadership and governance”. Sweden’s federation cited “recurring shortcomings in governance, transparency and management”. “I was not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports,” said Wenger, who was hired by Infantino in 2019 and is FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development.
