Emmanuel Petit, Mikael Silvestre, Robert Pirès lead football icons’ revolt against Gianni Infantino

Football icons including Emmanuel Petit, Mikael Silvestre, Robert Pirès, Juan Sebastián Verón and Lucy Bronze have joined forces in a powerful statement against FIFA president Gianni Infantino, declaring that “enough is enough” as pressure mounts on the world football governing body’s leader.

The statement comes amid growing opposition to Infantino’s now-aborted plan to establish a new commercial entity and sell around 20% of the rights linked to FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors.

The proposal has triggered widespread concern among football stakeholders, with UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation reportedly united against the FIFA president.

National associations from England, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands have also publicly expressed a loss of confidence in Infantino, intensifying calls for him to step down.

The latest intervention from some of football’s biggest names could further increase the pressure on the FIFA chief, with the former players and current football figures making clear that they will no longer remain silent.

Infantino faces growing rebellion

The statement follows the departure of Kevin Lamour, a longtime colleague of Infantino, who was dismissed after claiming he had been “deceived” by what he described as a lack of openness from the FIFA president.

Lamour’s exit coincided with the Scottish FA withdrawing its support for Infantino, adding Scotland to a growing list of associations questioning his leadership.

The developments have created one of the most significant challenges to Infantino’s presidency, with opposition now coming from both football administrators and prominent figures who have shaped the game on the pitch.

Ceferin calls for tougher action

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin has emerged as one of Infantino’s strongest critics, reportedly urging European nations to consider boycotting FIFA tournaments while calling for the FIFA president to leave office.

Čeferin has described Infantino’s failed commercial proposal as “even worse than the Super League”, highlighting the depth of opposition to the plan.

With major football bodies, national associations and high-profile icons now questioning his leadership, Infantino remains under intense pressure.

The latest statement from Petit, Silvestre, Pirès, Verón, Bronze and other prominent figures could prove significant as the resistance to the FIFA president continues to grow.

More football personalities are expected to add their voices to the campaign, potentially turning the mounting criticism into the most serious threat yet to Infantino’s leadership of world football.