Continues to take fire: Football legend demands Infantino's resignation
The storm surrounding Infantino refuses to subside: Portuguese football legend Luis Figo is calling for the FIFA president to resign from his position, against the backdrop of the controversial plan to sell private shares in the World Cup and other tournaments of the organization. Figo's call comes as Infantino holds an emergency meeting today (Wednesday) with senior FIFA officials, after he canceled the move.
The storm surrounding Infantino refuses to subside: Portuguese football legend Luis Figo is calling for the FIFA president to resign from his position, against the backdrop of the controversial plan to sell private shares in the World Cup and other tournaments of the organization. Figo's call comes as Infantino holds an emergency meeting today (Wednesday) with senior FIFA officials, after he canceled the move.
In an opinion piece obtained by CNN and first published in the "Daily Mail", Figo called Infantino's conduct "the lowest, most deceitful and self-serving behavior I have ever witnessed." Figo, who won four Spanish league titles, the Champions League, and the "Ballon d'Or" award during his illustrious career, did not spare harsh words.
"The man who would do this — the man who would try to force through such major changes just to enrich himself and his friends — is a relic of the game's past and must have no part in its future. I could write 10,000 words on the problems at FIFA, but the solution requires only three: Infantino must go," the former Portuguese footballer wrote.
As recalled, the football world was caught in a storm last week following Infantino's proposal to establish a separate entity that would include private investors and control the commercial and operational rights of the World Cup. However, the outrage from fans, various football federations, and even the most senior people in the organization forced Infantino to retreat from the plan. Even one of his closest advisors, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned from his position in protest of it.
"Infantino has humiliated the office of the FIFA president that he promised to elevate. He has lied, cheated, and tried to look after himself at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve," wrote Figo.
FIFA previously stated that the money generated from the plan would be invested back into the sport, but Figo argues that the plan "is not a good idea" and that it "is not robust when you are not transparent about the staggering returns that private companies are always looking for."
