French football legend Michel Platini, the former UEFA president, has leveled accusations against FIFA president Gianni Infantino, charging him with violating the game's regulations, and renewing his sharp criticism of the Swiss official while calling for him to step down.
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Speaking to French channel Canal Plus on Monday, Platini said: "I think Infantino has failed because he is the guarantor of the game's rules, and he has not respected them. That's why I believe he should go."
Platini's comments come amid mounting pressure on Infantino following the collapse of his plan to sell stakes in World Cup rights to private-sector investors. Infantino has led FIFA since 2016 and is seeking re-election next year.
Platini also criticized several decisions made during the recent World Cup, arguing they violated the game's rules. He said: "Commercial water-break stoppages aren't stipulated in the regulations, nor is the 30-minute break between the two halves of the final, and the red card is the worst example."
Platini pointed to the case of a suspended red-card sanction against U.S.
national team forward Folarin Balogun, which allowed him to play in the following match after President Donald Trump reportedly intervened via a phone call with Infantino. The incident sparked widespread controversy, given that FIFA regulations prohibit any form of political interference in football affairs.
