Platini joins criticism and calls for Infantino to resign

Michel Platini has joined calls for Gianni Infantino to leave the FIFA presidency, arguing that the issue goes beyond money and tournament planning. The former UEFA president told Canal+ that Infantino had failed in his role as guardian of football’s rules.

“Economic matters are one thing, but Infantino has failed because he is the guarantor of the game’s rules, and he did not respect them,” Platini said. His criticism follows broad opposition to now-abandoned plans to sell stakes in the World Cup and other competitions.

Platini also pointed to controversies during the recently completed World Cup in North America. He criticized drinks breaks that often lasted up to four minutes and were used to show advertising. He said the halftime show during the final exceeded the established maximum of 15 minutes.

The former UEFA chief further cited FIFA’s decision to remove a suspension imposed on U.S. forward Folarin Balogun. That decision came after a telephone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Infantino, according to the report. Platini’s comments add his name to the criticism facing the FIFA president.

“

Economic matters are one thing, but Infantino has failed because he is the guarantor of the game’s rules, and he did not respect them.