Portugal great Luis Figo has called for FIFA president Gianni Infantino to resign.
Figo, who was a candidate for the FIFA presidency in 2015 before withdrawing and later backing Infantino, described Infantino's conduct the "lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have ever witnessed".
Infantino is due hold talks with FIFA executives on Wednesday after calling an emergency meeting in Rabat in the wake of his now abandoned plan to seek private investment in a company to run the World Cup.
"I could write 10,000 words on the problems at FIFA. But the solution needs only three: Infantino must go," UEFA football adviser Figo wrote in the Daily Mail.
"I have loved football all my life. I was a professional player for 20 years. And believe me, I have met some rogues in my time in the game.
"But what I have seen exposed in the last 10 days is the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have ever witnessed.
"The man who would do that – the man who would try to force through such major changes just to enrich himself and his friends – is a relic of the game’s past and should have no part in its future.
"None of this comes as a surprise when you consider the litany of abuses he has inflicted on football’s reputation; from suspending and reversing disciplinary decisions to breaking the laws of the game over a half-time show, nothing gets in the way of pleasing his friends.
"Infantino has debased the office of FIFA president that he promised to elevate. He has lied, deceived and tried to feather his own nest at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve."
Infantino’s plan to expand the World Cup to 64 teams has also been attacked by the European Leagues, which co-ordinates professional football leagues in 34 countries across Europe.
It labelled the sell-off proposals "ill-conceived" and insisted the "dangerous idea" raised "serious questions" over FIFA’s governance.
Adding to that, its statement said: "In this sense, we must not ignore that on Thursday 30th July, amidst the furore over FFE (FIFA Forward Enterprise), FIFA shared a 'research brief’ with its (National Associations) in the hope of advancing plans to expand the 2030 men’s World Cup to 64 teams.
"As with the aborted FFE project, this new proposal involves an impractically short assessment timeline (just four weeks) and zero consultation with the leagues, clubs and players whose planning and livelihoods would be most affected.
"Let us be clear: FIFA must not be allowed to continue taking unilaterally disruptive decisions that fly in the face of the leagues, clubs, players and fans whose sustained efforts and investment drive the value of international football competitions.
"Now more than ever, FIFA requires governance reform that ensures that all relevant stakeholders have a formal role in decisions that shape the future of our game."
The 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States featured 48 teams, itself an increase of 16 from the previous edition in 2022.
The European Leagues said recent events underlined why it had lodged a formal complaint in October 2024 with the European Commission regarding FIFA’s conflict of interest as both regulator and commercial operator.
The organisation added: "In the past two years we have had many productive meetings with the Commission and remain convinced that it will take the necessary action to protect fair competition and ensure compliance with the principles already set out by the Court of Justice of the EU.
"Until there is reform, including legally binding engagement with all relevant football stakeholders, the European Leagues will reject the expansion or creation of FIFA competitions."
The post-World Cup crisis engulfing FIFA intensified on Tuesday when secretary general Mattias Grafstrom sent a highly critical internal memo to staff.
Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s chief of global football development, also insisted he was "not involved" in the FFE proposal, adding that aborting it was "absolutely necessary and beyond question".
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Source: RTE
