German culture minister calls for Infantino to step down over World Cup sale plans
German Culture and Media State Minister Wolfram Weimer has become the first member of the federal government to call for the resignation of FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Weimer accused Infantino of severely damaging world football by attempting to sell tournament shares to private investors.
In an interview with the German Press Agency, the 61-year-old independent politician stated: "Infantino has severely harmed world football with a planned sell-off of the World Cup." He added: "He has lost the trust of the European football community and should not stand for re-election next year."
Infantino’s proposal to sell tournament shares to private investors was halted within days under intense pressure, primarily from European football’s governing body UEFA.
Weimer framed football as a cultural asset for all, not a speculative commodity for a few. He praised UEFA’s threat to boycott World Cup participation, saying: "UEFA has taken a clear stand with its World Cup boycott threat — that deserves respect and our support."
He called on the German Football Association (DFB) to take "active resistance" against Infantino, arguing: "The DFB, with its 24,000 clubs and eight million members, is the world’s largest sports federation. Its voice carries weight." Weimer stressed that without DFB, UEFA, and European football, there would be no World Cup.
UEFA has maintained its boycott threat even after the investor deal was scrapped.
Weimer also criticised Infantino’s leadership style, demanding clarity over the suspension of the red card ban for US footballer Folarin Balogun at the World Cup and whether a call from US President Donald Trump to Infantino played a role in that decision.
"Football belongs to everyone, not a clique of clever-greedy dealmakers," Weimer said. "It is not a low-grade commodity but a high-value democratic cultural asset based on openness, participation, respect and fairness. Inclusivity is central to football’s integrity, not profits for the few. Ticket and fan jersey prices are already too high."