Fans' links demand Infantino's resignation

A coalition of fan associations called on Thursday for the resignation of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, an Italian-Swiss official, following the failure of his project to open the door to private investment for the organization of the World Cup and other tournaments, and demanding a radical reform of the sport’s highest governing body. The European, African, and North American associations, along with approximately 40 national federations, affirmed that football belongs to the fans who fill the stadiums and follow their clubs and national teams, arguing that Infantino behaves as if he is more important than that.

In a petition on the Change platform, the signatories stressed that the project to create a commercial company, unveiled this summer, is merely an extension of a series of controversial attempts, starting with his involvement in the European Super League project in 2021, through his proposal to hold the World Cup every two years, to the high pricing policy for the 2026 World Cup and the culture of autocratic power within FIFA. They viewed Infantino as having betrayed his position and world football, while simultaneously calling for transparent mechanisms to oversee the executive body and involve stakeholders in major decisions.

Ronan Evans, chief executive of the organization Football Supporters Europe, said that deep reform is necessary to avoid a recurrence of such deviations. He noted that UEFA does not have a candidate to challenge Infantino in the upcoming Moroccan elections, but is working on proposing a rotating presidency for FIFA among continental confederations, similar to the European political union, emphasizing that changing the system itself may be the solution to curbing the concentration of power.