Fans’ groups worldwide have launched a petition calling for the resignation of Gianni Infantino as Fifa president and for wholesale reform of the organisation.
Infantino is under mounting pressure after being forced to abandon plans to seek private investment to run Fifa tournaments, including the men’s and women’s World Cups.
Three continental confederations accused Infantino of “deception” in an open letter last week over the manner the plan was devised and presented, with Uefa, European football’s governing body, intent on boycotting Fifa events having “lost confidence” in Infantino’s leadership.
Infantino retains support, notably in Africa and South America, but now fans’ organisations have called on him to step down, with a petition being launched on change.org.
“The shameful attempt by one individual – the Fifa president himself – to sell off the World Cup to private investors exposed a betrayal football will never forget,” a statement on behalf of the fan organisations said. “Infantino’s plan was stitched together in secret. Negotiated behind closed doors. Hidden from Fifa’s own members and from the millions of people whose passion makes football what it is.”
Fans are being encouraged to sign the petition, which already has support from all six Fifa confederations spanning continental and national fan groups. “A president who repeatedly betrays football and makes a mockery of our game has lost the right to lead it,” the statement continued. “For the credibility of Fifa – and for the future of the game – he must resign.”
The petition also calls for reform of Fifa, including the formal involvement of supporters and other key football stakeholders in decisions that shape the future of the game.
“The departure of Gianni Infantino is a first and a must, but that can only have a positive impact if it’s followed by some reform of the office and of governance,” said Ronan Evain, the executive director of Football Supporters Europe, which is a signatory to the petition. “If a man can concentrate so many powers then the governance of Fifa is not fit for purpose.
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“[Fifa] needs to start from scratch. All the reforms from 2016 have been erased or made irrelevant by Infantino. We need to be as open-minded as possible on the future of football governance and there are other models outside football, outside sport, that need to be looked into – the idea of rotating presidencies seems interesting.”
Fifa has been approached for comment.