Watzke demands Infantino's departure – three reasons at the Big Bang Festival

The resistance against FIFA President Gianni Infantino is growing markedly: After a critical statement by DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, Hans Joachim Watzke is now also openly demanding Infantino’s removal and a leadership change at the world governing body. He presented his demand at the Big Bang KI Festival in Berlin and named three concrete reasons for the call.

Three reasons for the call

As reported, Watzke explained that the FIFA Peace Prize was awarded to US President Donald Trump, which he sees as incompatible with the core values of the world governing body. He also criticised the controversial lifting of the ban on US national team player Folarin Balogun during the World Cup, which in his view undermines the rulebook. The third point is the now‑abandoned plan to sell commercial World Cup shares to private investors, an initiative he considers opaque. He called for Infantino’s removal.

The league president used his position to reaffirm the demand. Watzke complained that key FIFA officials and members of the Council were initially not sufficiently involved in the investors’ plans. He emphasized that FIFA’s enormous financial strength does not provide a convincing reason to involve private financiers in the revenues of the World Cup.

Neuendorf had already stated that his trust relationship with the current FIFA leadership is damaged. Other European associations are also expressing resistance and demanding greater transparency within the world governing body.

Additional pressure is being generated by Debbie Hewitt, chair of the English association and FIFA vice‑president, who is demanding the documents on the abandoned investors’ project as well as on the Balogun case. The next FIFA Council meeting is scheduled for October 15.

Infantino is still holding onto his position and plans to run again at the FIFA election 2027. Consequently, the conflict over his leadership is likely to further escalate in the coming months.