Bernd Neuendorf demands Gianni Infantino's removal before the March 18 election

The president of the German Football Federation, Bernd Neuendorf, and the Swiss official Gianni Infantino represent two opposing visions for the future of world football: while Neuendorf calls for the FIFA president to be removed from office, Infantino is preparing to seek his fourth consecutive term in the March 18 election.

Neuendorf intensifies the campaign against Infantino

This Tuesday, Neuendorf called for redoubling efforts to "take Gianni Infantino off the pitch", arguing that the Swiss official has harmed football. In an interview granted to the newspaper Tagesspiegel, the DFB president stated that "Gianni Infantino is no longer acceptable as FIFA president because he has greatly harmed football" and that he has lost all confidence within the Federation.

Criticism of the management and external audit

Neuendorf also criticised the proposal to create an external audit of the world football governing body, pointing out that FIFA has recently acknowledged the need for essential changes. He added that "we cannot put the wolf in charge of the flock" and that the culture established by Infantino during his ten years at the helm requires "a fundamental change".

Infantino himself will stand as a candidate in the March 18 election, aiming to be re‑elected and take a fourth consecutive term. However, Neuendorf reiterated that he will not vote for the Swiss, recalling that in September he described the failed proposal by the incumbent to sell part of the commercial rights of its competitions as a "predictable manoeuvre".

In the interview, Neuendorf emphasized that "In any case, Gianni Infantino is absolutely not the right person to moderate a reform process" and that he has lost all credibility. The German president concluded that the current situation of football cannot be led by the one who created it.