GERMAN FOOTBALL OFFICIAL CALLS FOR INFANTINO TO LEAVE FIFA POST

Hans-Joachim Watzke, one of the vice-presidents of the German Football Association, has called for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to leave office, saying there should be “no ifs or buts” about his departure. Watzke made the remarks at an artificial intelligence festival in Berlin as criticism of Infantino’s leadership continues to grow within parts of European football ahead of the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027.

The German Football Association was among the few national football bodies that did not sign a letter supporting Infantino’s re-election bid. Watzke identified three major issues behind his position, beginning with the FIFA Peace Prize introduced by Infantino and awarded to United States President Donald Trump in December 2025 during the draw for the 2026 World Cup. Watzke questioned the process through which the award was created and presented, arguing that Infantino had personally initiated and decided on the prize.

Watzke also criticised FIFA’s handling of the suspension involving United States forward Folarin Balogun during the 2026 World Cup. Balogun received a red card and was initially expected to serve an automatic one-match suspension, but the ban was later lifted following a reported phone conversation between Trump and Infantino. Watzke questioned how a disciplinary decision involving a player could be overturned after intervention from a political leader, describing the situation as unacceptable.

The German official's third concern was a FIFA proposal unveiled in July to establish a commercial company that would have been open to private investors. The proposal, which reportedly involved commercial interests connected to the World Cup, was withdrawn only days after it was announced following opposition from football officials. Watzke criticised the lack of information given to FIFA's vice-presidents and council members, saying the plan had been developed without sufficient consultation within the organisation.

Watzke's comments followed similar criticism from DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, who earlier said that the relationship of trust between the German federation and FIFA leadership under Infantino had been severely damaged. Neuendorf also called for an end to what he described as the “Infantino system.” Infantino remains the only declared candidate for the FIFA presidency election scheduled for March 18, 2027, while the deadline for other candidates to submit their nominations is November 18, 2026.