German Football Boss Calls for Infantino to Step Down

Gianni Infantino must leave the FIFA presidency "no ifs or buts", according to Hans-Joachim Watzke. He is one of the vice-presidents of the German Football Association (DFB). Watzke made this statement at a festival focused on artificial intelligence in Berlin on Thursday evening.

The DFB did not join other federations in signing a letter to support Infantino’s re-election as FIFA president in six months.

"He has to go, no ifs or buts," Watzke declared. He listed three main reasons why Infantino should not continue as president.

First, Watzke pointed to the FIFA Peace Prize. Infantino started this prize and gave it to US president Donald Trump in December 2025 at the World Cup draw for 2026. Watzke said, "Infantino created this prize himself, and he decided on it himself."

He added, "You can’t just invent something on your own and then announce it, it’s madness."

Watzke also criticized how the Folarin Balogun red card was handled during this year's World Cup held in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Balogun was sent off in the last 32, but his one-match suspension was canceled after a phone call from Trump to Infantino.

"It can’t be that when someone gets sent off, the head of state calls the FIFA president, and, remarkably, the whole thing is immediately overturned. That’s madness," said Watzke.

The third point Watzke raised was about a project announced on July 28 and canceled just four days later. This project aimed to set up a commercial company open to private investors and became a main issue against Infantino.

"It’s completely insane," Watzke said. "Nobody knew about it, his vice-presidents in FIFA knew nothing, the Council knew nothing."

DFB president Bernd Neuendorf also spoke out earlier this week. In an interview with RTL/ntv television, he said it is time for Infantino to go.

"The relationship of trust with Gianni Infantino, under this FIFA leadership, has of course been completely shattered," he said.

"It’s important that this Infantino system comes to an end."

Currently, Infantino is the only candidate for the FIFA presidency in the election set for March 18, 2027. Candidacies will remain open until November 18.