Former Players also weigh in against Infantino as pressure to resign continues to mount
If the pressure to resign from the post of FIFA President on Gianni Infantino by various associations is not immense, even former players over the years have now begun calling for the embattled President to resign and resign quickly.
It has been a turbulent time for Infantino following the FIFA World Cup’s conclusion, with him coming under the scanner for his deal to sell off the FIFA World Cup rights to private investors in the FIFA Football Enterprise scheme. The outrage has already seen UEFA and CONCACAF announce boycotts, with both the Federations also in discussions about starting a Nations League that involves all the countries from these two bodies.
And now, to make matters worse for Infantino, former players have also joined in asking for his resignation, making his position even more untenable than before.
In a statement released by the group which is going viral across social media platforms, it calls for wholesale changes at the top of the governing food chain, while also speaking about having enough issues at hand already.
The players to voice their concerns include former France, Arsenal, and Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre, who also holds a post with FIFA in a 16-man committee that deals with anti-racism initiatives. Other players include former England goalkeeper David James, 1998 World Cup winner with France Emmanuel Petit, and England Women’s defender Lucy Bronze.
“We share the exact same concerns as the millions of fans around the world,” part of the statement read. “Like them, we have watched the game we love drift away from its core values under Fifa’s current leadership. For too long, we’ve seen major decisions taken without players being consulted or considered, and without any regard for the fans who sustain the sport.
“Change is necessary. Power has blurred the current leadership’s ability to distinguish between its own interests and what is best for football. Recent events have made silence impossible. Enough is enough.”
The group called for efforts to “reshape the future of our sport”, adding: “There are good people within Fifa who want to rebuild trust, but a new era requires a structured change: a real, direct say for players and fans in how football is run. Those who step on to the pitch and those who sit in the stands deserve a genuine voice to help reshape football’s future together.”
However, in the midst of all the uproar, one Federation led by a former footballing legend has voiced its unequivocal support for Infantino, and that is the Cameroon Football Federation led by former Barcelona and Inter Milan forward Samuel Eto’o.
Speaking in an interview with CNN, Eto’o made it clear that Infantino has not done anything wrong or untoward, while adding that he would like the FFE proposal to once again be put on the table if Infantino is reinstated.
“I don’t think that [Infantino] has done anything wrong,” he said. “All of this has happened because there’s an election coming out, that’s all there is.
“I want to see all of my colleagues, all of the presidents, re-reading the project. After president Infantino is re-elected, we will have the strength to ask for this project to be put back on the table for discussion. I remain convinced that, if there is a democratic vote, this project will be adopted because it’s good for the majority.”
