FIFA president Gianni Infantino has come under renewed scrutiny after former UEFA president and French football great Michel Platini publicly called for his resignation, accusing him of failing in his responsibility to uphold football’s rules.
Infantino has faced criticism since reports emerged of a controversial proposal involving the sale of parts of the World Cup to private investors. Although the proposal was subsequently abandoned, the controversy has continued to raise questions about FIFA’s approach to the commercial and administrative management of the sport.
Speaking to Canal, Platini argued that the issue went beyond FIFA’s financial decisions. He said Infantino’s greater failure was his alleged disregard for the rules that he is supposed to protect.
“Economic matters are one thing, but Infantino has failed because he is a guardian of football’s rules and he has not respected them,” Platini said.
The former UEFA chief also criticised several decisions surrounding the staging of World Cup matches. Among the issues he raised were hydration breaks during matches and the 30-minute half-time interval used during the final. Platini questioned whether such measures were consistent with established football regulations and argued that commercial considerations should not override the sport’s traditional framework.
“Advertising breaks are not a rule, and a 30-minute half-time break in the final is not part of the rules either. And that red card was even worse,” he said.
Platini went further in his criticism of Infantino, insisting that the FIFA president should step down if he no longer respects the regulations he is responsible for safeguarding.
“He is the guardian of the rules, and if he does not care about them, he must resign,” Platini said.
He also accused Infantino of having a strong appetite for money and power, suggesting that removing the FIFA president would not necessarily be straightforward through sporting institutions alone. According to Platini, if UEFA wanted to see Infantino leave his position, the matter might have to be pursued through legal channels.
“I always knew he loved money and power,” Platini said.
Platini’s comments carry particular weight because of his own long history at the highest levels of football administration. He served as UEFA president and was once regarded as a leading candidate to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA president.
However, his own career in football governance was seriously disrupted in 2015, when he became embroiled in an investigation over a payment of around $2 million from Blatter. The payment was described by investigators as an improper arrangement, while Platini maintained that it related to legitimate work carried out for FIFA.
The controversy ultimately forced Platini to leave his position as UEFA president and ended his hopes of succeeding Blatter at FIFA. He has consistently maintained that he did nothing wrong and later continued to challenge the allegations against him.
His latest comments therefore come from a figure who has himself experienced intense scrutiny within football’s governing structures. Nevertheless, his criticism adds to the wider debate over FIFA’s leadership, the commercialisation of the World Cup and the balance between financial interests and the traditional rules of the game.
Infantino, who has led FIFA since succeeding Blatter in 2016, has overseen an increasingly commercial and globally ambitious period for the organisation. Platini’s remarks now put renewed focus on whether FIFA’s pursuit of commercial opportunities is being balanced with the principles and regulations that govern international football.
