FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing renewed criticism after former UEFA president and French football great Michel Platini called for him to resign, arguing that he has failed in his responsibility to uphold the rules of the game.
Infantino has come under pressure following reports of a controversial plan involving the sale of parts of the World Cup to private investors. Although the proposal was subsequently abandoned, the episode has continued to fuel debate over FIFA’s leadership and the growing commercial influence surrounding international football.
Speaking to French broadcaster Canal+, Platini said the issue went beyond financial considerations. In his view, Infantino’s more serious failure was connected to his role as a guardian of football’s regulations.
“Economic matters are one thing, but Infantino has failed because he is a guardian of the rules of football and he has not respected them,” Platini said.
The former UEFA chief also criticised several decisions and practices associated with the World Cup. He questioned the use of hydration breaks during matches, as well as the decision to extend the half-time interval to 30 minutes for the final.
Platini argued that advertising breaks should not be treated as part of football’s rules and said a 30-minute half-time interval in the final was also outside the established framework. He was equally critical of a red-card decision, describing it as an even more serious problem.
His strongest criticism was reserved for Infantino’s position as FIFA president. Platini said that someone responsible for protecting the rules should step down if he does not respect them.
“He is the guardian of the rules, and if he does not care about them, he must resign,” Platini said.
Platini also accused Infantino of being attracted to money and power. He suggested that sporting institutions alone might not be able to bring about his departure and claimed that, if UEFA wanted Infantino removed, the matter could require legal proceedings.
The comments carry particular weight because Platini himself once stood at the centre of the international football establishment. He served as UEFA president and was regarded as a potential successor to Sepp Blatter as FIFA president.
However, Platini’s own ambitions were derailed in 2015 when he became embroiled in a controversy surrounding a payment of $2 million from Blatter. The payment prompted allegations of improper conduct and led to disciplinary action against both men. Platini subsequently left his position as UEFA president.
Platini has consistently maintained that he did nothing wrong in relation to the payment. He reiterated his claim of innocence in 2025, years after the controversy had damaged his prospects of becoming FIFA president.
His latest remarks therefore come against the backdrop of his own complicated history with football’s governing bodies. Nevertheless, his criticism reflects wider questions surrounding the balance between football’s traditional rules, commercial interests and the authority of FIFA’s leadership.
Infantino has led FIFA since 2016 and has overseen a period in which the organisation has pursued an increasingly commercial and global approach to the sport. His tenure has included major changes to international competitions and efforts to expand FIFA’s revenues and global reach.
Platini’s call for resignation adds another prominent voice to the debate over how the world’s most powerful football organisation should be governed and how closely its leadership should adhere to the principles and regulations governing the game.
