Former FIFA President calls Gianni Infantino a 'dictator'

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Former FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, has launched a scathing criticism of his successor, Gianni Infantino, calling him a ‘dictator’ and accusing him of having close political ties with former US President, Donald Trump.

In an interview with German media outlet Bild, Blatter stated that FIFA is no longer run collectively as it once was.

“What is FIFA today? Everything depends on the president, Infantino. FIFA is a dictatorship. The FIFA Council, with around 40 members, has no power in decision-making,” Blatter said, as quoted on Thursday.

Blatter also highlighted Infantino’s close relationship with Donald Trump, particularly in relation to the organisation of the 2026 World Cup, which will be largely held in the United States.

He described the awarding of a peace prize to Trump by FIFA as merely a gesture of respect because the country is hosting the tournament.

“Trump will orchestrate a public relations show. He has already done so. To do this, he needs his new friend, FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The word ‘ally’ is more appropriate than friend,” he said.

In addition, Blatter believes that the organisation of the 2026 World Cup needs serious attention, especially regarding political stability and security in the United States.

He referred to the incident in Minneapolis as being worse than the various controversies that arose during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“I hope that football can overcome politics and the situation will calm down when the competition begins in the United States,” he said.

Blatter himself has a long history of controversy at FIFA. In September 2015, the then-FIFA Secretary General, Jerome Valcke, was first sanctioned with a suspension. Shortly thereafter, the FIFA Ethics Committee issued a temporary 90-day ban on Blatter as part of an investigation also involving Michel Platini. In December 2015, Blatter and Platini were banned from all football activities for eight years. However, in 2025, both were acquitted of the charges by a Swiss court.