Football is at the cross road as the governing body Fifa faces a lot of hot criticism around the world.
Ballon d’Or winner and Portuguese legend Luís Figo just dropped a nuclear statement on August 5, 2026, calling for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign immediately.
In a blistering op-ed, Figo didn’t hold back:
“Today I join others from across our game and call for Gianni Infantino to resign as FIFA President. Infantino has debased the office that he promised to elevate. He has lied, deceived and tried to feather his own nest at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve… It is too late to save his dignity but it is not too late to save football. He should go. Now.”
Hours later, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney piled on, declaring he no longer has confidence in Infantino. He described the failure to consult senior advisers, the COO, and board members as a “fatal” governance failure:“I’ve run a few organizations in my time.
The idea that proper governance is not to disclose something of consequence that should be fatal and you lose confidence in that individual.”
Yet while Europe and others are turning against him, African football leadership appears to be circling the wagons and offering Infantino support to stay in power.
So here’s the real conversation starter:
Is African football leadership failing the continent and its people by staying silent (or worse, defending the status quo) while others call out alleged deception and self-interest at the highest level of the game? Or is this smart realpolitik protecting FIFA funding that many African associations desperately need?
Do you see this as loyalty, pragmatism or something closer to corruption and self-preservation?
We all wait and 🙈 see
