Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter doesn’t hold back on Infantino’s World Cup: “The tournament has lost its credibility”

Former FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, has gone on the offensive against current president Gianni Infantino and the soccer’s world governing body. The statements made come at the end of a World Cup in which many people were left puzzled by the decision making before and during the tournament.

Infantino under fire

Blatter almost immediately called for new leadership at the helm of FIFA after criticism followed Infantino for all 60,000 miles he traveled during the five weeks of the tournament. Whether it was the ticket prices that were outrageously high and heavily suspected to be connected to FIFA, or hydration breaks which allowed for advertising breaks, or a red card to Folarin Balogun that was taken away after a call from his buddy Donald Trump at the White House.

Infantino came under scrutiny from fans, players, teams and coaches and now he is getting it from his predecessor. “Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies,” said Blatter. “If a U.S. President intervenes with the FIFA President — and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match — the question is unavoidable: Quo vadis, FIFA? Quo vadis means ‘Where are you going?’ in Latin. Football must never become a playground for political power.”

Balogun was given a red card in the United States round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and set to miss the round of 16 match against Belgium. A couple days before that knockout round match kicked off, Balogun’s one game suspension was lifted, and the US striker was instead placed on a period of probation, allowing him to play the round of 16 match. FIFA cited article 27 of the disciplinary code which allows red cards to be lifted so long as a red card isn’t related to match-fixing.

Blatter calling for change at top

The decision was made after Donald Trump admitted he made a call to Infantino, and many believe that call influenced the decision to allow Balogun to play. That was the most glaring of decisions that put the integrity of the game in question, but Blatter went on to claim that neither FIFA, nor it’s president is no longer credible. “The longest World Cup has come to an end - with the right champions. But on the way to the final whistle, the tournament had lost its credibility.”

Now Blatter is calling for the soccer world to bring an end to his “heir’s” reign following a World Cup that was shrouded in skepticism and controversy. "Politics must not be allowed to overshadow the game. Now it is up to the fans, players and national associations to reclaim football and bring it back to its roots under new leadership,” concluded Blatter.

We have to take a step back and remember Blatter’s past and why he is no longer president. This is a bit of the pot calling the kettle black, considering Blatter was in charge of FIFA for seventeen years, but ejected from his role as president and banned from the sport for six years following allegations of corruption and improper payments.

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