Former Portugal international Luis Figo has demanded the immediate resignation of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, calling his conduct over the past 10 days the most deceitful he has ever seen in football.
Figo, who played professionally for 20 years and has served as a UEFA football advisor since 2017, declared that Infantino must leave his position immediately. He insisted that the FIFA chief tried to force through major changes to enrich himself and his allies at the expense of the sport.
The former Barcelona and Real Madrid winger questioned why Infantino failed to disclose the plan to member associations when he gathered them in a room before the World Cup Final. He argued that Infantino hid the risks of private equity investment and concealed that the scheme would grant him a $30 million annual salary in Washington, DC, which is five times his current earnings.
Infantino is currently under immense pressure and is holding crisis talks with staff after calling an urgent meeting in Morocco tomorrow.
Private Equity and World Cup Ownership
Figo warned that private equity firms always demand crippling financial returns. He stated that once FIFA sells its share in the World Cup to private investors, ownership of the tournament is lost forever, effectively disinheriting future generations of administrators.
According to Figo, there is no need for outside investors because FIFA already holds $5 billion in reserves. He argued that those funds should be used to buy out any proposed stakes or spent on building pitches and training coaches so every child in the world can play football, rather than lining the pockets of investors and bloated administrators.
Figo compared the collapsed investment plan to the failed European Super League, noting that media exposures blew the devious plot apart before its supporters could align their messaging.
Blackmail Allegations and Disciplinary Abuses
The former Sporting Lisbon and Inter Milan star highlighted a wider pattern of misconduct during Infantino's presidency. He pointed to statements from Jordan Football Association president Prince Ali, who accused Infantino of blackmail and mob-like behavior by obstructing the Jordanian governing body's work and funding to extract a nomination letter.
Figo also cited other abuses of FIFA's reputation, including the suspension and reversal of disciplinary decisions and the breaking of football laws to accommodate a half-time show.
Concluding his critique, the winner of 127 caps for Portugal stated that Infantino has debased the presidency and lost the backing of his senior staff, key advisors, the football community, and even the FIFA Peace Prize winner. Figo insisted that while Infantino cannot save his dignity, football can still be saved if he steps down now.
