Luis Figo, one of Portugal's most decorated footballers, has publicly called on Gianni Infantino to step down as president of FIFA, delivering a blistering critique of a leadership he says has damaged the sport's governing body.
In a post on X on Wednesday, the former Ballon d'Or winner wrote that Infantino had "debased the office that he promised to elevate," adding that the Swiss-Italian administrator had "lied, deceived and tried to feather his own nest at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve."
Figo, who won league titles with both Barcelona and Real Madrid before a spell at Inter Milan, was blunt about the consequences: "It is too late to save his dignity but it is not too late to save football. He should go. Now."
The intervention from Figo, who himself ran for the FIFA presidency in 2015 before withdrawing, adds to the pressure on Infantino as he prepares to meet senior FIFA officials in Morocco on Wednesday for what is expected to be a crisis meeting.
Fallout from the shelved investment plan
The immediate trigger for the latest wave of criticism is FIFA's decision to abandon a proposal that would have allowed private investors to buy minority stakes in a new commercial subsidiary, the FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would have overseen revenues from major tournaments including the World Cup.
Infantino announced on Saturday that the plan was being scrapped, saying it had "created divisions" that were "no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place." But the retreat came only after widespread opposition from European football bodies and even from within FIFA's own ranks.
UEFA had threatened to boycott future FIFA events, and FIFA's chief operating officer reportedly voiced concerns. The backlash has now spread to national associations: the Football Association of Wales was the first to withdraw its support for Infantino's re-election, followed by the Serbian and Swedish federations.
Arsène Wenger, FIFA's chief of global football development, has also sought to distance himself from the president. The former Arsenal manager reportedly described the decision to withdraw the investment plan as "absolutely necessary and beyond question."
Infantino, first elected in 2016, has faced mounting criticism over his handling of the 2026 World Cup, including incidents during the tournament, and over his close relationship with US President Donald Trump. The controversy has revived questions about FIFA's governance and the direction of the sport under Infantino's leadership.
Figo's call is unlikely to force Infantino out, but it amplifies the sense of crisis around the FIFA presidency. As European football's governing bodies and national associations weigh their next moves, the coming weeks will test whether Infantino can survive the storm.
