Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has launched a scathing critique of his successor, Gianni Infantino, labeling him a “dictator” who operates without limits.
Speaking to the German magazine The mirror, the 90-year-old former executive suggested that Infantino’s behavior has become so detached from institutional reality that he should be sent for “psychiatry.”
This internal friction arrives as the governing body prepares for the FIFA Congress in Rabat on March 18, 2027, where Infantino, 56, remains the heavy favorite to secure another term. The outburst reveals a deepening rift within the upper echelons of football governance following the commercial success, yet controversy-laden, 2026 World Cup.
Infantino Maintains Dominance Despite Commercial Strategy Debates
- Commercial Strategy: Infantino’s previously proposed and subsequently canceled plan to create a company for FIFA’s commercial activities, which Blatter critiqued, remains a point of discussion regarding the governing body.
- Election Odds: Despite the “dictator” branding, Infantino’s active campaigning, including recent outreach to the Asian Football Confederation, keeps him in a dominant position for the 2027 vote.
The Anatomy of the Institutional Schism
Blatter’s critique centers on what he describes as an “untouchable” culture inside FIFA headquarters. This management style, Blatter argues, has been influenced by Infantino’s proximity to U.S. President Donald Trump, which he claims has led Infantino to believe he is destined to monopolize world football.
Blatter maintains that this association has fundamentally altered Infantino’s perspective, leading him to believe he is “destined to monopolize” global football. DHNet reports that Blatter further accused the incumbent of utilizing FIFA resources to fund his own re-election campaign, specifically highlighting extensive travel to Asia intended to secure support from the Asian Football Confederation.
Defending the Executive Office
FIFA has responded to the allegations with a formal rebuttal, as noted by Le Figaro. The governing body defended the president’s travel schedule, asserting that Infantino is simply “fulfilling his presidential duties” through these international visits. Regarding the specific claim about elevator usage, FIFA said that the president “also uses the FIFA elevator in the company of other people.”
Blatter, who was forced to resign in 2015, and former UEFA president Michel Platini were both definitively acquitted of fraud charges by the Swiss justice system in 2025. This legal acquittal in 2025 has evidently emboldened Blatter to re-enter the discourse surrounding FIFA’s future.
| Key Figure | Role / Status | Election Context |
|---|---|---|
| Gianni Infantino | Incumbent FIFA President | Favorite for 2027 re-election |
| Sepp Blatter | Former FIFA President | Critical voice of current leadership |
| Michel Platini | Former UEFA President | Exonerated in 2025; former candidate |
The 2027 Election Horizon
The primary point of contention remains the failed project to sell minority stakes in a commercial arm of FIFA to private investors.
As the body moves toward the March 2027 election, the question remains whether the “dictator” narrative will gain traction among national associations, or if the commercial success of the 2026 cycle will help the incumbent, who remains the favorite.
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