FIFA’s Gianni Infantino Must Resign
Ever more footballers are pressuring FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to resign after he plotted to sell off the World Cup. Removing him should be the first step in a root-and-branch reform to put the game back in the hands of players and ordinary fans.
FIFA’s leadership have consistently tried to distort the game in order to chase money. Players’ unions and fan groups should decide the sport’s future, not bureaucrats trying to appeal to investors. (Ronaldo Schemidt / AFP via Getty Images)
Gianni Infantino must be shocked. He’s spent his near-decade-long tenure as FIFA president squeezing football for every cent possible. Now he’s weathering a global revolt against his leadership just for doing what he’s always done, after he quite literally tried to sell the World Cup to the highest bidder.
Popular criticism toward Infantino has long been brewing, reaching fever pitch during the rip-off convention that was the 2026 World Cup. But secretly developing a scheme to open the world’s most popular (and already extremely profitable) sporting event to private equity has proven too much even for some of his closest cronies.
Previously impressively indestructible, Infantino now genuinely seems to be in trouble, as one national football federation after another withdraws support for his reelection. The end of his reign would be cause for worldwide celebration. His ability to degrade an already corrupt and broken institution, and deeply harm football in the process, cannot be overstated.
This article is for subscribers only. Please login or subscribe to access our full archives and beautiful print and digital magazine starting at just $3 a month.