Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has called on the football community to oust his successor, Gianni Infantino, claiming that the recent World Cup lost its credibility due to political interference. Blatter, whose own tenure at the helm of football's governing body was plagued by corruption allegations, argued that political influence must not be permitted to eclipse the sport itself.
The criticism appears to target Infantino’s close relationship with United States President Donald Trump. This relationship reportedly played a key role in FIFA's unprecedented decision to overturn a ban on USA striker Folarin Balogun. Balogun had received a red card during a match against Bosnia, but Trump personally intervened by calling Infantino to discuss the sending-off. Consequently, FIFA suspended the forward's ban for a year, allowing him to participate in the round-of-16 match against Belgium, where the United States was ultimately defeated 4-1.
Following the conclusion of the World Cup on Sunday evening—where Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time in a highly contentious final—Blatter expressed his dissatisfaction on social media. While he acknowledged that the tournament ended with the "right champions," he lamented that the competition had lost its integrity along the way. Blatter wrote that politics should not overshadow the game and urged fans, players, and national associations to reclaim football under new leadership. He accompanied his post with hashtags referencing Donald Trump, Gianni Infantino, and a "Fifa half-time show."
Blatter is not alone in his condemnation of the current FIFA administration. LaLiga president Javier Tebas also targeted Infantino, focusing heavily on the Balogun controversy. In an interview with the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tebas described the suspension of the American player's ban as an extremely serious issue. Tebas remarked that FIFA was fortunate Belgium eliminated the United States, suggesting that a different outcome could have cost Infantino his presidency. He added that the incident was merely the tip of the iceberg, accusing FIFA of destroying the football industry by expanding international tournaments to the detriment of domestic leagues and clubs. When asked if Infantino should resign, Tebas stated that his time is up.
Despite the growing opposition, Infantino announced in April his intention to run for a fourth term as FIFA president. The election for the 2027-2031 cycle is set to take place in Morocco on March 18 next year. Although Infantino may run unopposed, Tebas criticized the current structure, calling the system flawed from the ground up. He noted that while many individuals within the sport privately oppose Infantino's actions, no rival candidates are willing to run in an election they are certain to lose.
The discontent extends to other major football bodies as well. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin chose to boycott the World Cup final following a series of conflicts between UEFA and FIFA. The disputes centered around disciplinary procedures, refereeing logistics, and overall match operations, highlighting a widening rift at the top of global football governance.
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