Portugal legend Luis Figo calls for Infantino to resign, saying he ‘debased’ FIFA presidency

Figo Demands Infantino’s Departure Amid FIFA Crisis

Poinews.com – Portuguese football icon Luis Figo delivered a scathing critique of Gianni Infantino’s tenure leading FIFA on Wednesday, urging the troubled president to step down immediately. The former Real Madrid and Barcelona midfielder took to X to voice his concerns, asserting that the Swiss official had “debased the office that he promised to elevate.” Figo continued his assessment, noting that Infantino “lied, deceived and tried to feather his own nest at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve.”

“It is too late to save his dignity but it is not too late to save football. He should go. Now,” Figo wrote in his message.

Investment Plan Backlash

The call for resignation comes as FIFA navigates significant turbulence following the abandonment of its proposal to permit private investors to acquire shares in premier competitions, notably the World Cup. The initiative would have enabled third parties to secure minority, non-controlling positions within a newly established commercial subsidiary called the FIFA Forward Enterprise.

This ambitious plan encountered substantial resistance from various quarters of the football world. UEFA, Europe’s governing body, threatened to withdraw from upcoming FIFA tournaments, while criticism also emerged from within FIFA itself, including from the organization’s chief operating officer.

By Saturday, Infantino confirmed that the investment scheme was being abandoned, explaining that it “created divisions” that were “no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.” However, the damage appeared to have already accumulated significantly.

Support Erodes for Re-election Bid

Following the announcement, the Welsh Football Association promptly declared it was pulling its backing for Infantino’s campaign for presidential re-election. The Serbian and Swedish football associations quickly mirrored this decision.

Arsène Wenger, the former Arsenal manager who currently serves as FIFA’s chief of global football development, has also moved to distance himself from the president. Infantino was initially elected to lead the world football governing body back in 2016. According to reports, Wenger stated in a formal declaration that abandoning the investment plan was “absolutely necessary and beyond question.”

Meanwhile, Infantino is preparing to convene a crisis meeting with senior FIFA officials in Morocco on Wednesday. This gathering follows a period of mounting criticism regarding FIFA’s management of several incidents during the 2026 World Cup, as well as ongoing tensions surrounding the president’s relationship with US President Donald Trump.