Platini Claims Infantino has Evolved into an ‘Autocrat’

Michel Platini, the former UEFA president, has expressed that FIFA's current leader, Gianni Infantino, has adopted a more autocratic style, showing a preference for the affluent and influential, during an interview with The Guardian on Thursday.

Having served as Infantino's deputy from 2009 to 2015, when Platini led the European football governing body, he commented, “He was an effective number two, but he fails as a number one.” Platini noted, “While Infantino excelled at UEFA, he has one flaw: he is drawn to the wealthy and powerful, and that’s just part of his character.”

He added, “That trait was evident when he was my deputy, but back then, he had no authority.”

“Sadly, Infantino has grown more autocratic since the onset of the pandemic,” Platini remarked.

In the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Infantino has developed a close rapport with US President Donald Trump, establishing a unique FIFA peace prize awarded to him during the tournament's December draw.

Taking the helm from the controversial Sepp Blatter in 2016, Platini believes that Infantino's centralized form of governance has rendered FIFA less democratic compared to Blatter's tenure.

“There’s reduced democracy compared to Blatter’s era. Regardless of your views on Blatter, his main issue was his desire to dominate FIFA indefinitely; he genuinely cared for football,” Platini shared with The Guardian.

Current football administrators, according to Platini, are merely fulfilling their duties and many exhibit indifference towards football or basketball. “Working at UEFA or FIFA doesn’t necessarily mean you have a passion for the sport,” he emphasized.

Platini has been a persistent critic of Infantino and his inner circle, alleging that they impeded his own aspirations to become FIFA president by informing Swiss authorities about an undisclosed payment of two million Swiss francs (equivalent to $2.5 million) made from Blatter to him.