Can Gianni Infantino survive as Fifa president? – podcast
Fifa president Gianni Infantino, buoyed by a well-received World Cup only weeks ago, now faces mounting pressure to resign over a controversial plan to sell off the World Cup. Despite issuing an apology, the backlash has not subsided, raising questions about whether this represents one scandal too many for a leader already known for divisive moves, including controversially awarding Donald Trump a peace prize.
This episode of the Guardian's Full Story podcast, hosted by Reged Ahmad with sports reporter Jack Snape, examines why the sell-off plan proved so unpopular and assesses Infantino's chances of remaining in post. It comes as Fifa has publicly defended Infantino, accusing critics of an "effort to undermine" the president, while the Guardian's editorial board has argued he should step down in the interests of football.
- Infantino faces resignation calls despite apologising for World Cup sell-off plan
- Fifa defends him, alleging a campaign to undermine his presidency
- Guardian podcast explores whether this is his final crisis
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Infantino's failed World Cup sell-off plan has inflicted serious damage to FIFA's institutional credibility at a moment when public trust is essential to the organisation's functioning. The fact that his apology failed to resolve the crisis, combined with his established pattern of divisive decisions, suggests he has become a liability rather than an asset to football's governance. In such circumstances, responsible leadership requires acknowledging that one's continued presence undermines the institution itself.
The case against
A president who delivered a well-received World Cup should not be forced from office over a single controversial proposal, particularly when he has already apologised. Removing leaders whenever significant criticism emerges risks destabilising FIFA's institutional capacity and sets a troubling precedent that judges entire tenures by isolated scandals rather than broader records. Infantino retains organisational support, and more mature governance would assess his full tenure rather than treating one failed initiative as disqualifying.