Critics say FIFA lacks democratic practice, label Infantino authoritarian

Michel Platini, former president of European football, has launched a sharp critique of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, accusing him of steering the global football body towards authoritarianism. In an interview with The Guardian on Thursday, Platini asserted that Infantino now favours the wealthy and powerful, a marked shift from his earlier role as UEFA’s number two.

Platini stated, “He was a good number two, but he was not a good number one. He excelled at UEFA, but he has a problem: he prefers the wealthy and those with influence. It is part of his character.” He added that even during his time as UEFA’s deputy, Infantino displayed similar tendencies, though without holding ultimate authority.

The former French midfielder further criticised Infantino for exacerbating these issues in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Unfortunately, after the pandemic, Infantino has become even more authoritarian,” Platini said.

Platini’s comments come ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In the lead-up to this tournament, Infantino has reportedly cultivated close ties with former U.S. President Donald Trump. He even introduced a special FIFA Peace Award, which was controversially presented to Trump during the World Cup draw in December last year.

Infantino assumed the FIFA presidency in 2016, succeeding Sepp Blatter, who had been embroiled in a corruption scandal. Platini argues that under Infantino, FIFA has become less democratic than it was under Blatter. “Whatever can be said about Blatter, his main flaw was wanting to remain at FIFA for life. But he loved football and worked for it,” Platini said.

He also questioned the motivations of current football administrators, suggesting that many are more interested in holding positions than in genuinely promoting the sport. “Those running football today—whether in UEFA or FIFA—don’t necessarily love the game. They just work in it; football itself may not matter to them,” he said.

Platini has long been critical of Infantino. He has alleged that the FIFA president obstructed investigations by Swiss prosecutors into undeclared payments of two million Swiss francs that Platini had received from Blatter.

Table: Key Criticisms of Gianni Infantino by Platini