World Cup winners, Fifa legends say Infantino blinded by power

Former international footballers, including World Cup winners and Fifa legends, have called for urgent reform at the governing body of world football, accusing its current leadership of being "blinded by power." Gianni Infantino, the embattled president of Fifa, has faced mounting pressure to resign after abandoning his proposal to create a commercial body for tournament rights and sell a 20% stake to private investors.

The Swiss football official has not shown any signs of stepping down despite opposition from several Fifa confederations, including UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF, as well as calls for a potential no-confidence vote.

Former players such as Emmanuel Petit, Bixente Lizarazu, Robert Pires, Briana Scurry, and Lucy Bronze, along with other ex-international players like Claudio Pizarro, Juan Sebastian Veron, Emmanuel Adebayor, Didier Drogba, and David James, expressed their concerns about the direction of Fifa under Infantino's leadership. They argued that power has clouded the leadership's ability to prioritize the sport's core values over its own interests.

The group of former players and Fifa legends urged all stakeholders to work together to reshape the future of football, insisting that both players and fans should have a genuine voice in the decision-making process. They emphasized that the fans, players, and the sport itself deserve a genuine opportunity to participate in shaping football's future, stating, "For the fans, for the players, and for the good of the game, we will be silent no more."