Fans are asking Gianni Infantino to step down as FIFA president, saying he has ‘ruined football’ at the World Cup.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been asked by some people to step down from his role. Since he took over in February 2016, Infantino has been a figure who divides opinion. During his time, he helped organize three World Cups—in Russia, Qatar, and North America—and made some changes that not everyone agrees with, like adding hydration breaks for the 2026 World Cup.
Infantino also faced criticism over his role in lifting Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban, which let the player compete for the USA against Belgium even though he was sent off in the previous game. US President Donald Trump, who is friendly with Infantino, admitted he called to suggest overturning the ban but said he never told Infantino what to do.
UEFA, the European football authority, strongly criticized FIFA’s decision, calling it “incomprehensible and unjustifiable.” UEFA’s president, Aleksander Ceferin, even chose to skip the World Cup final in protest. Relations between UEFA and FIFA have been tense, especially over issues like Iran’s team treatment and the refusal to let Somali referee Omar Artan enter the country.
Now, La Liga president Javier Tebas has said FIFA makes decisions that serve its own interests and urged Infantino to resign, saying he has “destroyed the football industry.” Speaking to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tebas said, “I think his time is up, but he has support from federations, so he’s likely to stay. The system is rotten, and many who disagree just stay silent. That silence harms football.”
Tebas also criticized hydration breaks, saying they weren’t really needed at many World Cup games. “FIFA does things for its own benefit, not for football. If they want a longer halftime, they’ll do it. Hydration breaks are just for advertising. I saw it myself; in places like Dallas and Los Angeles, the stadiums had air conditioning, and I even needed a jacket in the stands.”
Despite all the criticism, Infantino looks set to keep his job. He’s currently in his fourth term, which runs until 2027 when the next FIFA election will take place.