Gianni Infantino blinded by power, says World Cup winners and FIFA legends

A coalition of former internationals — among them World Cup winners and FIFA Legends — has demanded urgent reforms at FIFA, accusing the organisation’s leadership under President Gianni Infantino of being intoxicated by power.

Infantino faces growing calls to step down after dropping a plan to set up a commercial arm for FIFA tournament rights and sell a 20 per cent stake to private investors. Despite open resistance from several of FIFA’s own confederations, including UEFA, the AFC and CONCACAF, and talk of a possible no-confidence motion, the Swiss official has given no indication he will leave the role he has held since 2016.

“We share the exact same concerns as the millions of fans around the world,” said former players including France’s 1998 men’s World Cup winners Emmanuel Petit, Bixente Lizarazu and Robert Pires as well as American former women’s world champion Briana Scurry and former England international Lucy Bronze.

“Like them, we have watched the game we love drift away from its core values under FIFA’s current leadership. Change is necessary. Power has blurred the current leadership’s ability to distinguish between its own interests and what is best for football,” the group said.

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The group also features ex-Peru striker Claudio Pizarro, former Argentina midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, ex-Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor, and FIFA Legends Didier Drogba and David James. FIFA Legends are former players honoured for their contributions to the sport who represent the global body at exhibition matches and back social and charity initiatives worldwide.

“We call on all stakeholders to step forward and help reshape the future of our sport. There are good people within FIFA who want to rebuild trust, but a new era requires a structural change: a real, direct say for players and fans in how football is run,” the group said.

Infantino is due to face re-election next year, but senior figures told Reuters last week that FIFA’s regional power blocs are weighing up whether to bring forward a no-confidence vote before the ballot.

“Those who step onto the pitch and those who sit in the stands deserve a genuine voice to help reshape football’s future together. For the fans, for the players, and for the good of the game, we will be silent no more,” the players’ group said.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Published on Aug 24, 2026