Figo demands Infantino’s resignation over moves to sell World Cup stakes
Former Portuguese international Luis Figo has demanded the resignation FIFA President, Gianni Infantino over his proposed move to sell World Cup stakes to private investors.
Figo who made the call in an interview with Daily Mail on Wednesday said that Infantino should step down because he has lost the backing of his senior staff, close advisers and the global football community.
He further argued that Infantino should throw in the towel for debasing the office that he promised to elevate by lying, deceiving and trying to feather his own nest at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve.
He declared that “it is too late to save his dignity, but it is not too late to save football” and insisted that Infantino must step down now.
“Today I join others from across our game and call for Gianni Infantino to resign as FIFA President.
“Infantino has debased the office that he promised to elevate. He has lied, deceived and tried to feather his own nest at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve.
“He has lost the support of his senior staff, his closest advisers, the vast majority of people who devote their lives to this sport and even, it would seem, the FIFA Peace Prize winner.
“It is too late to save his dignity but it is not too late to save football. He should go. Now.”
This comes days after the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) unanimously agreed to boycott future FIFA competitions should Infantino go-ahead with proposed plans to sell World Cup stakes to private investors.
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UEFA and all of its national associations unanimously and unequivocally rejected FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests, saying the World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product.
The European football body, which issued the threat after an emergency meeting of all UEFA’s 55 member associations, stated that no part of the World Cup should ever be surrendered to private investors.
It argued that the World Cup is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies, which has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent.
While defending FIFA’s investment plan amid mounting backlash, Infantino spoke about the moves to sell up to a 20% stake in a new commercial subsidiary, calling it an opportunity, not an obligation.
“FIFA Forward Enterprise, or FFE, is actually a proposal, an offer. It’s part of a democratic process—a consultation process—and, above all, it is an opportunity but not an obligation,” Infantino said.
“It is a golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally. But again, it is just an offer, not an obligation.
“Capturing that value requires additional expertise, additional insight, distinct from governing and developing the sport.
“It would simply commercialise and organise all FIFA-owned competitions along with sponsorship, broadcast, licensing and new ventures for the benefit of FIFA’s 211 member associations.
“Fans from everywhere in the world would gain immeasurably from this game-changing potential because it will transform football in their countries,” he said.
