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Fifa President Infantino: Culture Minister Weimer calls for Gianni Infantino's resignation
🇩🇪 Germany /Elections & Politics

Fifa President Infantino: Culture Minister Weimer calls for Gianni Infantino's resignation

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer called for FIFA President Gianni Infantino's resignation.
  • Weimer criticized Infantino's plans to sell stakes in World Cup tournaments to private investors.
  • He argued that football is a cultural asset, not a speculative commodity, and that Infantino has lost UEFA's trust.

German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer has become the first member of the federal government to call for the resignation of FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Weimer stated that Infantino has "severely damaged" world football with his plans to sell stakes in World Cup tournaments to private investors.

Infantino has severely damaged world football with his planned sell-off of the World Cup.

— Wolfram WeimerCriticizing FIFA President Gianni Infantino's business plans.

"Football is a cultural asset for everyone and not a speculative commodity for a few," Weimer told the German news agency dpa. He asserted that Infantino has lost the trust of the European football community and should not seek re-election next year. The FIFA president had attempted to sell shares in the world governing body's tournaments, but faced significant pressure, particularly from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), which ultimately halted the plans.

Football is a cultural asset for everyone and not a speculative commodity for a few.

— Wolfram WeimerExpressing his view on the nature of football.

Weimer praised UEFA's stance, noting their "threat of a World Cup boycott" was a clear position that deserved respect and support. He urged the German Football Association (DFB) to actively resist Infantino, arguing that without the DFB, UEFA, and European football, there would be no World Cup. UEFA has maintained its boycott threat even after the stake sale plan was abandoned.

Infantino has lost the trust of the European football community and should not seek re-election next year.

— Wolfram WeimerStating his demand for Infantino's resignation.

Furthermore, Weimer criticized Infantino's "backroom methods" of leading FIFA, stating that football does not belong to a "clique of clever, greedy dealmakers." He also called for clarification on how a red card suspension was lifted for US footballer Folarin Balogun during the World Cup, questioning whether a call from then-US President Donald Trump to Infantino played a role.

The UEFA has clearly positioned itself with a threat of a World Cup boycott – that deserves respect and our support.

— Wolfram WeimerCommenting on UEFA's opposition to FIFA's plans.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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