A global coalition of soccer fan organizations has initiated a petition demanding the resignation of FIFA President Gianni Infantino following his proposal to sell future World Cup revenue rights to private entities. The petition, tagged as InfantinOut, also advocates for a reconstruction of FIFA to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Describing Infantino’s actions as a “shameful attempt” to commercialize the World Cup, the petition highlighted the perceived betrayal by the FIFA President. The proposal was eventually retracted amid severe criticism. Notable among the signatories are Football Supporters Europe, Football Supporters Africa, the Independent Supporters Council in North America, and approximately 40 national fan groups globally.
Despite facing calls for his departure, Infantino has declined to step down, despite UEFA expressing a lack of confidence in his leadership. Criticism has also come from CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation. The petition accuses Infantino of exhibiting poor leadership qualities that clash with democratic principles, citing issues like centralized power, opaque decision-making, and lack of accountability within FIFA.
The petition underlines the necessity for Infantino’s resignation for the sake of FIFA’s credibility and the sport’s future. It also references past controversies involving Infantino, such as his support for the European Super League and the proposal of biennial World Cups. The ongoing saga has prompted a wave of resignations and condemnations within FIFA’s inner circles, further intensifying the calls for change.
