Sepp Blatter has once again called for 'new leadership' at FIFA in a brutal dig at Gianni Infantino. The current president has faced serious criticism for a number of decisions throughout this summer's World Cup.
Ticket prices, over-commercialisation, as well as his close relationship with US President Donald Trump have all been issues. Criticism then sharply increased after the decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's red card following a phone call from Trump.
Blatter's fresh attack
Blatter tore into Infantino immediately after that decision. Taking to Twitter, he said: “Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies.
"If a U.S. President intervenes with the FIFA President — and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match — the question is unavoidable: Quo vadis, FIFA? Quo vadis means 'Where are you going?' in Latin. Football must never become a playground for political power."
Blatter has now doubled down with a fresh post calling for change right at the top of the organisation just days after the World Cup final.
He said: “The longest World Cup has come to an end - with the right champions. But on the way to the final whistle, the tournament had lost its credibility. Politics must not be allowed to overshadow the game. Now it is up to the fans, players and national associations to reclaim football and bring it back to its roots under new leadership.”
Infantino likely to stay
While Blatter has called for fresh leadership, it appears that is unlikely. La Liga president Javier Tebas has claimed that due to a lack of opposition, it appears that Infantino is set to stay in charge.
Asked if he should quit, Tebas replied: "In my opinion, yes, I think his time is up." He added: "There's no opposition candidate, nobody wants to stand just to lose. He shouldn't stay, but the current state of affairs means he won't leave.
"These past few days here in America, I've heard many people who are against Infantino, who disagree with what he's doing. They say it, but then they do nothing. I don't know what's worse, the silence or the complicity, because those who stay silent are perfectly aware of the damage football is suffering."
The suspension of the American player's ban was absolutely serious. They were lucky that Belgium eliminated the USA, because otherwise a case could have arisen that might have cost Infantino his job. Since Belgium won, they managed to bury the matter. But these things are just the tip of the iceberg.
