FIFA president Infantino ‘must go’, says former UEFA boss Platini

What the report says

French football figure Michel Platini has called for FIFA president Gianni Infantino to leave office, arguing in an interview reported by Al Jazeera that the federation chief has failed to uphold the rules of the game. Platini, a former UEFA president, said Infantino should “go” in the wake of long-running scandals and criticism over recent FIFA decisions and tournament management.

Al Jazeera reported that Platini singled out several issues from the recent World Cup in North America, including hydration breaks that were used for advertising, an extended half-time show during the final, and FIFA’s handling of a red card suspension involving United States forward Folarin Balogun after a phone call from then-President Donald Trump to Infantino. Platini said such measures were not consistent with the rules and accused Infantino of putting money and power ahead of sporting standards.

The remarks come amid broader pressure on Infantino. According to Al Jazeera, UEFA has threatened to boycott FIFA tournaments unless Infantino abandoned a private-investment plan for FIFA events, while other regional confederations have also backed scrutiny of his leadership. FIFA did not respond to the outlet’s request for comment.

Platini’s criticism also reflects a long-running personal and political feud. He was once considered a leading candidate for FIFA’s top job before his own corruption case and later acquittal. He is now suing Infantino and two former FIFA officials in France over allegations tied to the events that prevented him from becoming FIFA president in 2015.