A global coalition of soccer fan groups has initiated a petition demanding the resignation of Gianni Infantino as FIFA president following his proposal to hand over future World Cup profits to private entities. The petition, labeled InfantinOut, also urges a complete overhaul of FIFA to prevent a recurrence of such actions.
The petition highlighted Infantino’s controversial move to commercialize the World Cup, which was swiftly retracted in the face of widespread condemnation. Notable fan groups involved in the initiative include Football Supporters Europe, Football Supporters Africa, the Independent Supporters Council in North America, and approximately 40 national fan organizations globally.
Despite mounting pressure, Infantino has refused to step down, even as UEFA and other prominent football bodies have expressed a lack of confidence in his leadership. The petition accuses Infantino of a severe leadership failure characterized by authoritarianism, lack of transparency, and absence of accountability within FIFA.
The document calls for Infantino’s resignation to restore FIFA’s credibility and safeguard the integrity of the sport. It also points out past instances of fan dissatisfaction with Infantino’s involvement in contentious projects like the European Super League and advocating for more frequent World Cup tournaments.