Infantino's Ruthless Power Grab: 'He Threw Out the Whole Gang'

Gianni Infantino's 2017 decision to dismiss members of FIFA's ethics committee marked the beginning of his concentrated power grab, according to former committee member Yngve Hallén. Hallén, who served on FIFA's ethics committee from 2012 to 2017, believes the move was a critical step in Infantino's ascent to unchecked control.

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He threw out the whole gang. I think many now see that it was the start of him taking a control he shouldn't have.

"He threw out the whole gang," Hallén told VG. "I think many now see that it was the start of him taking a control he shouldn't have." The dismissal affected 13 members, including the leaders of the investigative and judicial chambers, Hans-Joachim Eckert and Cornel Borbély. Only two members, Jack Kariko and Bruno De Vita, retained their positions.

Hallén described the mass dismissal as a significant error, stating, "A certain turnover is not unhealthy, especially considering the strain after the cases we had." However, he felt the scale of the removal was excessive. The ethics committee had handled major corruption cases in 2015, including banning then-UEFA president Michel Platini and FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

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A certain turnover is not unhealthy, especially considering the strain after the cases we had.

The reshuffle also impacted FIFA's governance committee, which Hallén believes further centralized power in Infantino's hands. Critics at the time, including Eckert and Borbely, suggested the decision was politically motivated, prioritizing "their own and political interests over FIFA's long-term interests." Hallén noted that many within FIFA accepted the changes without significant protest, allowing Infantino to consolidate his authority.

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It seems that FIFA top brass value their own and political interests more than FIFA's long-term interests.