Former World Footballer of the Year Luis Figo has joined the criticism on FIFA president Gianni Infantino and wants him out immediately in the wake of a World Cup investor plan.
“I could write 10,000 words on the problems at FIFA. But the solution needs only three: Infantino must go,” the Portugal legend Figo wrote for British paper Daily Mail.
“I have loved football all my life. I was a professional player for 20 years. And believe me, I have met some rogues in my time in the game. But what I have seen exposed in the last 10 days is the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have ever witnessed.”
The column on Wednesday came the same day that Infantino has reportedly summoned FIFA executives to Morocco for an emergency meeting in the wake of a massive backlash on the investor issue which FIFA announced last week Tuesday and then withdrew early Saturday.
UEFA, which threatened to boycott FIFA events if the plans had become reality, has said it has lost confidence in Infantino and FIFA and is “actively considering” legal action.
Other FAs and confederations also rejected the plans and Jordan FA president, Princi Ali Bin Al Hussein, said on Tuesday that they had been blackmailed when being told by FIFA they would only receive moned owed to them if he voted for Intantino at next year’s presidential election.
Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned last week and and secretary general Mattias Grafström and FIFA’s head of football development Arsene Wenger have also reportedly voiced criticism.
“Infantino has debased the office of FIFA President that he promised to elevate. He has lied, deceived and tried to feather his own nest at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve,” Figo wrote about Infantino who he had first supported.
“He has lost the support of his senior staff, his closest advisers, the vast majority of people who devote their lives to this sport and even, it would seem, the FIFA Peace Prize winner.
“It is too late to save his dignity but it is not too late to save football. He should go. Now,” Figo concluded.
