Soccer fan groups from across the world launched a petition Thursday calling for Gianni Infantino to resign as FIFA president. The action follows his attempt to sell future World Cup profits to private investors, a plan he dropped after a sharp backlash.
The petition carries the hashtag InfantinOut and also calls for FIFA to be rebuilt so that the current debacle can never happen again. It was reported by the Associated Press.
The groups behind the petition include Football Supporters Europe, Football Supporters Africa, the Independent Supporters Council in North America, and approximately 40 national fan groups worldwide.
The petition describes Infantino's commercial spinoff plan in strong terms. "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," the petition states.
It goes further in its criticism of how Infantino has run the organization. "Gianni Infantino has demonstrated a profound failure of leadership, incompatible with democratic governance," the petition reads. "The concentration of power around the FIFA Presidency, combined with opaque decision-making, personality cult clientelism, and zero accountability has destroyed any remaining trust in the world governing body."
The petition concludes on that point directly: "For the credibility of FIFA — and for the future of the game — he must resign."
Infantino has so far resisted calls to step down. European soccer body UEFA has stated it has no confidence in him. The leadership of North America's CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation have also criticized him. Despite this, he has remained in office.
The petition also references earlier decisions that angered supporters, including Infantino's past backing of the failed European Super League project and his push to hold World Cups every two years rather than every four.
