Reading · CBC | Sports News

Soccer

A collection of soccer fan groups from around the world launched a petition Thursday calling for Gianni Infantino to resign as FIFA president after he tried to sell future World Cup profits to private investors.

Petition calls for 'FIFA to be rebuilt so that the current debacle can never happen again'

Graham Dunbar · The Associated Press

· Posted: Aug 20, 2026 8:32 AM EDT | Last Updated: August 20

Listen to this article

Estimated 2 minutes

The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.

A man in a crowd of people lifts both hands over his head and waves. — Gianni Infantino waves as he arrives at the presidential inauguration day event at Arena USC on Aug. 7 in Cali, Colombia. Infantino is the subject of a fan petition, urging him to resign as FIFA president after he tried to sell future World Cup profits to private investors. (Getty Images)

The petition with the hashtag InfantinOut also calls for "FIFA to be rebuilt so that the current debacle can never happen again."

"The shameful attempt by one individual — the FIFA President himself — to sell off the World Cup to private investors exposed a betrayal football will never forget," the petition said about Infantino's plan for a commercial spinoff, which he dropped amid a furious backlash.

The fan groups include Football Supporters Europe, Football Supporters Africa and, in North America, the Independent Supporters Council, plus about 40 national fan groups worldwide.

WATCH | Can Infantino's FIFA presidency survive after sell-off plan?:

Can FIFA's president survive this? | About That

August 10|

Duration 2:10

Avneet Dhillon breaks down the open letter to FIFA from several soccer federations accusing President Gianni Infantino of deception over his proposal to sell a portion of the World Cup to private investors. (Photo credits: The Canadian Press, Reuters, Adobe Stock and Getty Images)

Infantino has resisted calls to leave office despite European soccer body UEFA saying it has no confidence in him. He has also been criticized by the leadership of North America's CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation.

"Gianni Infantino has demonstrated a profound failure of leadership, incompatible with democratic governance," the fan petition states. "The concentration of power around the FIFA Presidency, combined with opaque decision-making, personality cult clientelism, and zero accountability has destroyed any remaining trust in the world governing body."

"For the credibility of FIFA — and for the future of the game — he must resign," the petition adds.

It also cites Infantino's past support for projects that angered fans, including the failed European Super League project and pushing to hold World Cups every two years.

WATCH | Carlos Cordeiro resigns from FIFA after Infantino's proposal:

Senior FIFA official resigns over Infantino's World Cup sell-off plan

July 31|

Duration 2:10

FIFA president Gianni Infantino's key adviser has resigned, amid ongoing controversy following FIFA's plans to sell a stake in the World Cup. Infantino announced a plan to sell off part of FIFA's commercial interests to private investors, a move that caused significant backlash in the soccer world, including the prospect of European nations boycotting future editions of the World Cup. On Friday, Infantino's key adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned, calling the plan '"a bad deal for football.'

Soccer fans launch global petition urging FIFA boss Infantino to resign over World Cup 'betrayal'

Petition calls for 'FIFA to be rebuilt so that the current debacle can never happen again'

Comments