FIFA President Gianni Infantino Faces Calls for Resignation Amid Internal Divide

A group of current and former international footballers, including several FIFA Legends, have called for immediate leadership change at FIFA, stating that President Gianni Infantino has been blinded by power. The group, which includes World Cup winners such as Emmanuel Petit, Robert Pires, and Bixente Lizarazu, as well as players like Lucy Bronze and David James, claims the sport has drifted from its core values. They are calling for a structural change that would give players and fans a direct voice in how football is run.

The pressure on Infantino follows his abandoned proposal to create a commercial body for tournament rights and sell a 20 percent stake to private investors. While the European, Asian, and North American confederations have requested his departure, the African confederation has expressed unanimous support for him. Some senior figures have indicated that regional powerhouses are discussing a potential vote of no confidence ahead of the March 2027 elections, for which Infantino is currently the only declared candidate.

Samuel Eto’o, the president of the Cameroonian football federation, has publicly defended Infantino in an interview with CNN. Eto’o stated that Infantino has not done anything wrong and argued that the current criticism is driven by the upcoming elections. He suggested that the abandoned private investment project should be reconsidered if Infantino is re-elected, claiming that the redistribution of resources would help African nations attract and retain top talent.

While all three reports are from center-left outlets, they emphasize different aspects of the conflict. Some focus on the systemic failure of leadership and the demand for democratic reform from players, while others highlight the geopolitical divide between the global north and the African confederation regarding the redistribution of football's wealth.