Former UEFA Chief Platini Urges FIFA’s Infantino to Resign Amid Governance Controversies

Published On 31 Aug 202631 Aug 2026

French football legend Michel Platini has called for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to step down, citing a series of controversies that have rocked world football’s governing body.

“Economic matters are important, but Infantino has failed in his role as the guardian of football’s regulations. He did not uphold them,” Platini told a French media outlet on Sunday.

The 56-year-old Infantino has faced mounting criticism following his short-lived proposal to introduce private investment into FIFA events, including the World Cup. Additional scrutiny arose during the recently concluded World Cup in North America, where several contentious decisions drew widespread condemnation.

Platini specifically criticized the lengthy hydration breaks during the tournament, which extended up to four minutes and were reportedly used by the host broadcaster for commercial advertising. He also condemned the overextended half-time show during the final, which surpassed the stipulated 15-minute limit, and the controversial reversal of Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension after an intervention from U.S. President Donald Trump.

“The ad breaks were not in line with the rules, neither was the extended half-time in the final, and the red card incident was particularly troubling,” said Platini. “He is responsible for enforcing the rules, yet he fails to do so. He must leave his position.”

UEFA had previously threatened to boycott FIFA competitions unless Infantino abandoned the FIFA Forward Enterprises initiative aimed at attracting private funding. The European football association has since accused Infantino of mismanagement related to the financial restructuring plan.

No official response has been provided by FIFA regarding these allegations.

‘He Always Prioritized Wealth and Authority’

Regional football bodies, including CONCACAF and the AFC, have aligned with UEFA in opposing Infantino ahead of his anticipated re-election bid in March.

“This issue cannot be resolved by sports organizations alone or through internal mechanisms,” Platini stated. “If UEFA wants to hold Infantino accountable, it will have to take legal action.”

“I’ve always known he was driven by money and authority,” Platini added about Infantino, who holds dual Swiss-Italian nationality.

In 2015, Platini himself faced fraud charges while serving as UEFA president during his campaign to succeed Sepp Blatter. Although he was cleared of all charges in 2025, he was removed from office at the time, paving the way for Infantino’s election as FIFA president in 2016.

“He didn’t bring me down; he simply benefited from the situation,” Platini remarked. “Now, with multiple investigations into him unfolding globally, questions about his awareness of various issues continue to emerge. Time will tell how this develops.”

Currently, Platini is pursuing legal action against Infantino along with former FIFA executives Marco Villiger and Domenico Scala in a French court, seeking damages for what he claims were deliberate efforts to sabotage his presidential aspirations in 2015. He accuses them of engaging in a “criminal conspiracy involving fabricated accusations, abuse of influence, and complicity in influence peddling.”

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