Luis Figo has called on FIFA president Gianni Infantino to resign, escalating a fast-moving dispute that has spread well beyond sport and into wider Europe news because of the reaction from major European football bodies. The former Portugal international said Infantino had damaged the office he leads, as pressure grows after FIFA abandoned a controversial investment plan linked to its commercial operations.
Figo made the remarks in a post on X, where he said it was no longer possible to restore Infantino’s dignity but that football itself could still be protected. The intervention is significant because Figo remains one of the most recognisable figures in European football, and his criticism adds to a widening chorus from administrators and former insiders.
Why this football row has become Europe news
This is not an EU institutional story, but it has clear cross-border relevance in Europe news because the backlash has come from several European football associations and from UEFA, the game’s governing body in Europe. FIFA had proposed allowing private investors to buy minority stakes in a new commercial subsidiary tied to major competitions, including the World Cup.
The plan was eventually dropped by Infantino, who said it had created divisions and was no longer serving its original purpose. Even so, the reversal did not end the controversy. Instead, it appears to have intensified questions about leadership, governance and trust at the top of the global game.
Key developments in the latest Europe news update
- Luis Figo publicly called for Infantino to step down.
- FIFA shelved its proposed investment structure after strong criticism.
- UEFA had threatened a boycott of future FIFA events over the plan.
- The football associations of Wales, Serbia and Sweden withdrew support for Infantino’s re-election bid.
- Senior FIFA officials were due to meet in Morocco as the crisis deepened.
What sparked the backlash
At the centre of the dispute was a plan that would have opened the door to outside investors taking stakes in a commercial arm connected to FIFA competitions. Critics argued that the idea risked undermining confidence in how the sport is governed and raised concerns about transparency, influence and the long-term stewardship of football’s biggest tournaments.
That criticism was especially sharp in European news circles, where UEFA and several national associations signalled that the proposal crossed a line. Once support began to fracture in Europe, the pressure on Infantino increased rapidly.
What happens next in Europe news today
The immediate question is whether the loss of support from prominent European figures and associations turns into a broader challenge to Infantino’s leadership. A crisis meeting with senior FIFA officials may clarify whether the governing body can contain the fallout or whether more federations will break ranks.
For now, there is no indication that Infantino has agreed to step aside. But this remains notable Europe news because the opposition is no longer limited to private criticism. It is now public, organised and increasingly international.
Why it matters
Football governance rarely stays confined to the sport itself when Europe’s largest associations are involved. The dispute matters because European federations carry major commercial, political and sporting influence within FIFA. If confidence continues to erode, the consequences could affect future tournaments, voting alliances and the balance of power in world football.
In that sense, this is more than a personality clash. It is a test of whether FIFA’s leadership can rebuild trust after a failed proposal that triggered one of the sharpest bursts of opposition seen in recent years.
As Europe news developments go, the clearest takeaway is that Figo’s intervention has turned a governance controversy into a larger leadership crisis. Unless FIFA can restore confidence quickly, calls for change are likely to grow louder across the European game.
