Platini demands Infantino's departure, accuses FIFA president of flouting football rules

Michel Platini has once again called for Gianni Infantino’s departure, arguing that the FIFA president “should not remain” at the helm of the global body. The triple Ballon d’Or winner, 71, made these remarks in an interview with Progrès, on the sidelines of a charity golf tournament organized by former Saint-Étienne player Christian Lopez.

“He is the guardian of the rules of the game and he has flouted them,” said the former France number 10 about the Italo-Swiss executive. Infantino is currently the sole declared candidate to succeed himself in the election scheduled for 2027.

Platini had already targeted Infantino on Canal+ on August 31. This latest outburst comes after he was cleared by Swiss justice in the affair of a FIFA payment of nearly two million euros, a case in which Infantino was also implicated.

The former France captain backed up his criticism by pointing to several decisions made during the recent World Cup: shortened halves of 30 minutes, two-minute advertising breaks, and the handling of the red card received by Folarin Balogun — who nevertheless was able to play in the round of 16 between the United States and Belgium. “He will judge everyone who does not respect football and he does not respect it,” he concluded.