Former Germany captain Philipp Lahm has launched a scathing attack on FIFA president Gianni Infantino, accusing him of 'selling' the World Cup and 'robbing football of credibility' due to his close relationship with US President Donald Trump.
Lahm's Criticism Intensifies
In a column for German newspaper Die Zeit, Lahm described Infantino's proximity to Trump as 'most worrying,' stating: 'There is a suspicion that they derive personal advantages from their offices. The World Cup is being sold. That robs football of credibility.'
The 42-year-old, who captained Germany to World Cup glory in 2014, first questioned Infantino's integrity during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, claiming the FIFA president 'simply does not have integrity' and 'takes advantage of the game.' His stance has not softened in the intervening years.
Broader Concerns Over FIFA
Lahm also criticised FIFA's handling of ticket sales, accusing the organisation of 'not giving honest information about the true demand' to inflate prices. He reiterated his opposition to a biennial World Cup, a proposal Infantino has championed.
Writing for RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND), Lahm said: 'FIFA has lost further credibility because of the highest representative. One has the impression more and more that Gianni Infantino is not looking for the best solution in the interests of football and that he simply does not have integrity.'
Qatar Legacy and Future Concerns
Lahm linked the current controversy to the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, which he described as occurring under 'shady, strangest circumstances.' He added: 'Infantino does not give the impression that he wants to change anything. He takes advantage of the game. This is the problem of FIFA, an institution based in Europe, not football.'
The World Cup is currently being co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with the final scheduled for July 19, 2026. Lahm's comments come as scrutiny over FIFA's governance intensifies, with fans increasingly struggling to separate the organisation from the tournament itself, according to the former defender.
