Sepp Blatter calls Gianni Infantino a dictator
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Punch
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter called Gianni Infantino a “dictator” and criticised his management of the organisation. In an interview published on Wednesday by Der Spiegel, Blatter also challenged the peace prize awarded to Donald Trump.
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter called his successor Gianni Infantino a “dictator” and suggested he be sent to a psychiatric institution. Blatter, 90, was speaking in an interview with German magazine Der Spiegel published on Wednesday, according to Punch.
Blatter notably criticised Infantino’s creation of the FIFA peace prize, awarded to US President Donald Trump before the World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. He also denounced the ultimately abandoned plan to transfer part of the World Cup’s commercial rights. The former FIFA president also challenged the lifting of the suspension of US striker Folarin Balogun’s red card, arguing that the rules of the game must apply to everyone.
FIFA rejected the accusations against Gianni Infantino, president of world football’s governing body. Contacted by AFP, it said that Infantino “is carrying out his duties as president” and that Folarin Balogun’s suspension had been lifted by judicial bodies independent of FIFA. It also disputed the claim that Infantino uses the lift alone at FIFA headquarters.
The criticism comes as Gianni Infantino is already facing opposition over his bid for a new term at the helm of FIFA, following the abandonment of a FIFA commercial project announced in October and recent discussions about a possible bid by Arsène Wenger for the FIFA presidency.
