Former Portuguese player and Real Madrid idol Luis Figo has called for the resignation of FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a newspaper column. Figo is the first high-profile former player to protest against the Swiss official following a failed plan to sell commercial rights for the World Cup.
Writing in a column published Wednesday in the British daily newspaper Daily Mail, Figo reinforced calls for Infantino to be removed from office. He wrote that he could write 10,000 words about the problems at FIFA, but said the solution had only three words: Infantino needs to leave.
Figo wrote that what he had seen exposed over the past 10 days was the lowest, most dishonest, and most cowardly selfish behavior he had ever witnessed. He added that anyone who would try to force such major changes just to enrich himself and his friends belongs to football's past and should not take part in its future.
Failed World Cup Commercial Plan
Pressure on Infantino to leave his position has mounted after FIFA abandoned a project to create a subsidiary company to sell World Cup commercial rights to private investors. UEFA, the governing body of European football and Infantino's main opponent, had threatened to boycott future World Cups if the plan proceeded.
FIFA backed down after facing joint opposition from UEFA, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation. Infantino called an emergency meeting in Morocco on Wednesday to gather support, with the governing body for African football signaling it remains on his side.
Rupture Between Former Allies
Figo previously announced a bid for the FIFA presidency in 2015 before Infantino took office, though he later withdrew from the race. The two had maintained friendly relations and appeared together at FIFA events until now.
Figo's column marks a public rupture between the two figures and could lead to further protests from other prominent former players.
