Former Portugal star Luís Figo has called on FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign, describing him as a "fraud" amid growing pressure on the head of world football's governing body.
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Infantino is seeking to retain his position following a wave of criticism over his proposal to sell a stake in the commercial rights to the FIFA World Cup.
The 56-year-old FIFA president had proposed selling a 20% stake in World Cup rights to private equity investors through a company called FIFA Forward Enterprise.
The proposal drew widespread opposition, with three continental football confederations reportedly rejecting the plan, prompting Infantino to abandon the controversial initiative.
According to a source who spoke to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Infantino met with senior FIFA officials in Morocco on Wednesday in an effort to rebuild support.
However, Figo intensified the pressure by publicly criticizing the proposal and urging Infantino to step down.
Writing in the Daily Mail, Figo said:
"I could write 10,000 words about FIFA's problems, but the solution only needs three: Infantino must go."
He added:
"I have loved football all my life and played professionally for 20 years. Believe me, during my career I met people who lacked integrity."
Figo continued:
"But what I have witnessed over the last ten days is the most degrading, deceptive and selfish behavior I have ever seen."
He argued that anyone attempting to impose changes of such magnitude "simply to enrich himself and those around him" belongs to "the past of the game" and "should have no role in its future."
Infantino has defended the proposal, saying it would increase revenues for all FIFA member associations.
However, efforts to fast-track the deal without consulting national football associations, together with concerns that it could pave the way for holding the World Cup every two years instead of every four, triggered strong opposition.
Several senior FIFA officials, including Arsène Wenger, FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, have also reportedly criticized the way Infantino handled the issue.
Figo, who withdrew from the 2015 FIFA presidential election, said Infantino should resign immediately rather than wait for next year's presidential election.
"He has disgraced the office of FIFA president that he promised to elevate," Figo wrote.
"He lied, he deceived, and he tried to pursue personal gain at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve."
The 53-year-old concluded:
"He has lost the support of his senior staff, his closest advisers, the vast majority of people who have dedicated their lives to this sport, and, it seems, even the winner of FIFA's Peace Award (U.S. President Donald Trump)."
He ended with a direct appeal:
"It is too late to save his dignity, but it is not too late to save football. He must go now."
