Former Portuguese international Luis Figo has launched a scathing attack on FIFA President Gianni Infantino, calling for his immediate resignation following intense backlash over governance and commercial proposals within world football’s governing body. Writing in a guest column for the British press, the former winger stated that Infantino must step down to save the sport from ongoing controversy.
Luis Figo Demands Gianni Infantino Resignation Amid Governance Crisis
The high-profile condemnation arrives after FIFA faced immense pressure over plans to sell World Cup broadcasting and commercial rights to private investors—proposals that have since been rolled back under heavy scrutiny from member associations and stakeholders. Infantino, who took over the presidency following the departure of Joseph Blatter, now faces serious questions regarding his future leadership of the organization.
“I could write 10,000 words about the problems at FIFA. But the solution can be reduced to three words: Infantino must go,” Figo wrote in his column. The 53-year-old former winger, who currently serves as an advisor to the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), did not hold back in describing the atmosphere surrounding recent executive decisions.
Decades in Football Met with Unprecedented Self-Interest
Drawing on a professional playing career that spanned two decades across top European clubs and international duty with Portugal, Figo contrasted his experiences in the sport against the latest administrative maneuvers inside Zurich’s headquarters. “I have loved football my whole life. I was a professional footballer for 20 years. And believe me: in that time, I encountered some shady characters in football,” Figo noted.
“Yet what has come to light over the past ten days is the most despicable, deceitful, and cowardly self-serving behavior I have ever witnessed,” he continued. The former star specifically targeted the Swiss administrator’s push for sweeping structural changes, characterizing the approach as an attempt to enrich leadership circles at the expense of the global game.
From Past Supporter to Outspoken Critic
Figo’s opposition marks a sharp reversal from his stance a decade ago. In 2015, the former Real Madrid and Barcelona star initially announced his candidacy to challenge Joseph Blatter for the FIFA presidency, though he later withdrew from the race. Following Blatter’s subsequent resignation, Figo threw his support behind Infantino’s successful campaign to lead the organization.
Today, however, Figo argues that the current leadership has squandered its mandate. “Gianni Infantino has brought the office of the FIFA President, which he claimed he wanted to elevate, into disrepute. He has lied, deceived, and tried to benefit himself and his confidants at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve,” Figo stated.
UEFA Alignment and the Road Ahead for FIFA Administration
Operating in an advisory role under UEFA—an organization that has repeatedly voiced sharp criticism of Infantino’s policy initiatives—Figo emphasized that administrative reform is urgently required to restore institutional credibility. The withdrawal of the private equity proposals has temporarily quieted immediate commercial expansion efforts, but friction between regional confederations and FIFA leadership remains high.
“It is too late to preserve his dignity. But it is not too late to save football. He should leave. Now,” Figo concluded.
