Michel Platini has intensified his criticism of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, stating that Infantino has failed in his role as the guardian of football’s laws and should step down. In an interview with French broadcaster Canal Plus on Monday, Platini said, “I think Infantino has failed because he is the guarantor of the laws of the game, and he has not respected them. Therefore, I believe he should leave.”
Pressure Mounts on Infantino
Platini’s remarks come amid growing pressure on Infantino following the collapse of his plan to sell stakes in World Cup rights to private investors. Infantino has been at the helm of FIFA since 2016 and is seeking re-election next year.
Criticism of World Cup Decisions
Platini also voiced objections to several decisions made during the recent World Cup, arguing that they violated the sport’s regulations. He highlighted specific instances, saying, “Commercial water breaks are not stipulated in the regulations, nor is the 30-minute halftime break during the final match. The red card situation is the worst case.”
He referred to the suspension of the red card penalty imposed on US forward Folarin Balogun, which allowed him to play in the next match, following a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Infantino. This incident sparked widespread controversy, especially given FIFA’s rules prohibiting any form of political interference in football matters.
A Long History Between Platini and Infantino
Platini and Infantino share a long history of working together within UEFA. Infantino served as UEFA’s general secretary for several years while Platini was president of the organization. However, Platini was banned from all football-related activities in 2015 over a payment he received from FIFA, which prevented him from running for the FIFA presidency as he had planned. Infantino then assumed the role in 2016.
Speaking about the current FIFA president, Platini said, “I always knew he loved money and power a lot.” He added that football is now being run by a small group that considers itself the decision-maker, while the true stars of the game are players like Kylian Mbappé, Zinedine Zidane, and Diego Maradona.
UEFA's Legal Push Against Infantino
Meanwhile, UEFA is seeking to pressure Infantino through legal action, preparing to file a criminal complaint related to the proposed investor deal. Platini believes this legal route may be the most effective way to confront the FIFA president. He stated, “I think the matter will not be resolved through sports authorities. If UEFA wants to oust Infantino, I believe it will happen through the judicial authorities.”
