Masters: Infantino Presses the Self-Destruct Button

Richard Masters, chief executive of the English Premier League, said that FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who is facing growing criticism, “pressed the self-destruct button” because of his failed plan to introduce private investment into the World Cup. This statement comes after Frenchman Kevin Lamour left his post as operations director at FIFA, having last month defied the stance of senior officials in the global football governing body and issued a strongly worded statement criticizing Infantino over those plans. UEFA is among the most prominent critics of Infantino, and the English Football Association has withdrawn its support for the FIFA president.

Speaking to the BBC, Masters said: “This is a problem of FIFA’s own making. It is an injury it has inflicted on itself. The organization has pressed the self-destruct button, and its repercussions are now being felt in the solutions that need to be found. I don’t think FIFA should ever consider selling a stake in the World Cup.”

He added: “It is a non-profit organization, and it should in fact hold this tournament in trust for the future of football. I think it is a bad idea, and the English FA has taken the right position regarding Gianni.”

On the possibility of a challenger emerging to Infantino, who is set to run for re-election next year, Masters said: “I believe that any consensus candidate who emerges should put FIFA reform on their agenda, and perhaps even reform of the presidency and how it interacts with these issues.”