Former Portugal national team captain Luís Figo called on Wednesday for FIFA president Gianni Infantino to resign, claiming the Swiss official dishonoured the position he promised to elevate. Writing on the social network X, the former candidate for the presidency of world football's governing body stated that he was joining others across the sport in demanding Infantino step down immediately.
Figo said Infantino lied, deceived, and tried to enrich himself at the expense of the game he was elected to serve. He added that Infantino has lost the backing of his senior executive team, close advisers, football workers, and FIFA Peace Prize winner Donald Trump.
The former Sporting, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan player expanded on his criticism in an opinion article for the British tabloid Daily Mail. Figo wrote that while Infantino cannot save his dignity, immediate action is necessary to save football.
Commercial rights controversy
Infantino has faced strong opposition following a controversial attempt to sell a portion of commercial rights for the World Cup to private entities. Public outrage forced the FIFA president to abandon the plan, but the backlash has left his leadership under heavy pressure.
In his article, Figo described recent events as the lowest, most dishonest, cowardly, and selfish behavior he had witnessed in his long career in football. He wrote that an official who pushes changes to enrich himself and his friends belongs in the past and has no place in the future of the sport.
Figo also stated that Infantino abused the reputation of the sport. He recalled previous statements from Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, the president of the Jordanian federation, who characterized Infantino's conduct as mafioso.
History of FIFA leadership bids
Figo previously ran for the FIFA presidency in 2015 before withdrawing his campaign. He pulled out after criticizing the absence of public debate between candidates, calling the vote anything but a real election.
Joseph Blatter won re-election for a fifth term in 2015, but resigned shortly after when a corruption scandal resulted in the arrests of multiple football officials.
In the next election that brought Infantino to power, Figo initially supported the Swiss administrator. Figo noted at the time that he enjoyed attending the match for children event with Infantino and wished him success in his presidential campaign.
