Premier League chief says Infantino hit ‘self-destruct’ with World Cup plan

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has criticized FIFA president Gianni Infantino for what he perceives as a "self-destruct" move regarding plans to inject private investment into the World Cup. Kevin Lamour recently resigned as FIFA's chief operating officer, distancing himself from the organization's leadership after publicly criticizing Infantino's approach.

Masters made these remarks to the BBC, stating, "This is a problem of FIFA's making. This is a self-inflicted wound." He emphasized that FIFA should not consider selling off a stake in the World Cup, as the organization is a not-for-profit entity entrusted with the future of football. Masters further criticized the idea, calling it a "bad idea" and noting that the English Football Association has taken a similar stance against Infantino.

As for a potential successor to Infantino, who is up for re-election next year, Masters suggested that an emerging candidate should prioritize reforms in FIFA, including a reconsideration of the president's role and its relationship with other aspects of the organization.