Luis Figo turns on Swiss FIFA Gianni Infantino in stark reversal

Former Ballon d’Or winner Luis Figo used his Wednesday social‑media post to demand the resignation of Swiss FIFA president Gianni Infantino, a dramatic reversal from his vocal support of the Swiss executive during the 2015 FIFA presidential election, in a striking turn of loyalty.

In 2015, Figo publicly championed Infantino, positioning himself as a key supporter of the Swiss executive’s bid for the top job. His endorsement was noted across the football world at the time.

In the Wednesday post, the former forward wrote, “Today, I join others in our football world in calling for Gianni Infantino to resign from his position as FIFA president.” He added the hashtag #Infantinout to underline his demand.

Figo’s status as the 2000 Portuguese Ballon d’Or winner gives his criticism additional gravitas. The former forward’s celebrated career underscores the impact of his statements.

He accuses Infantino of disgracing the office, lying, deceiving and attempting to enrich himself at the sport’s expense. The former player demands that the Swiss FIFA chief leave his role without delay.

Figo references the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project, an initiative that aimed to open part of FIFA’s commercial activities, including the World Cup, to private investors. The scheme was intended to reshape the business side of the game.

According to Figo, the collapse of the Forward Enterprise scheme has left the Swiss executive in turmoil, with senior executives and advisers reportedly withdrawing their support. The failure, he suggests, has eroded confidence in Infantino’s leadership.

The article was translated into English by artificial intelligence, with the original French version available online. No further comments were provided by either Luis Figo or Gianni Infantino.