DFB President Neuendorf calls for a red card for FIFA boss Infantino

DFB President Bernd Neuendorf has doubled down on his criticism of Gianni Infantino and called for a red card for the FIFA boss. “We have to send him off,” said the top official in a “Tagesspiegel” interview. He will not vote for Infantino in March.

«Gianni Infantino is no longer sustainable as FIFA boss. He did a lot of damage to football,” continued Neuendorf. The German Football Association (DFB) is in agreement: Infantino has “lost all trust”. A meeting of all 55 member associations of the European Football Union (UEFA) is scheduled for this Wednesday in Berlin.

Neuendorf had previously described Infantino's reform offer to the world association's 211 member associations as a "transparent maneuver". The Swiss want to secure his re-election next year.

So far there is no opponent for Infantino

Infantino had previously responded to the ongoing criticism of his leadership style and offered his opponents talks about possible reforms in FIFA for the first time. Infantino announced in the letter an independent external review of FIFA's governance as well as consultations on strengthening decision-making processes, including the role of the president.

At the same time, the 56-year-old made it clear that he wanted to continue leading FIFA. There is no talk of foregoing a candidacy for a fourth term in Congress in March 2027. This is what his critics around UEFA President Aleksandar Ceferin are demanding. There is currently no opponent for Infantino. His opponents have until November 18 to nominate a candidate for the presidential election three months later in Morocco. Then the FIFA deadline ends.

Neuendorf: “Don’t be tempted to become a gardener”

«Infantino has been in office for ten years and has established a culture in FIFA that needs fundamental change. “But we can’t turn the goat into a gardener,” warned Neuendorf in the “Tagesspiegel”. “It cannot be the case that the person who is responsible for today’s conditions is steering the urgently needed reform process.”

At the end of August, the dispute escalated with the threat of a criminal complaint in Swiss courts in connection with the World Cup investor plans against Infantino. For this purpose, information about the planned transactions was requested from US courts.