By: Saneliso Mlambo
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has launched a fresh public attack on his successor, Gianni Infantino, accusing him of allowing his close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump to damage world football.
In a post published on his verified X account, Blatter claimed the relationship had reached “a financial dimension” and declared that “no one has the right to sell our game.” The comments come as FIFA faces growing criticism over proposals to create a new commercial entity and sell a minority stake in the commercial rights of its major tournaments to private investors.
Blatter’s criticism appears to be linked to reports that FIFA is considering establishing a company known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), with plans to sell a 20–30% stake to private investors while FIFA retains majority control.
According to multiple reports, the proposal could generate billions of dollars for the governing body and increase financial distributions to its 211 member associations. FIFA has said the project remains in a consultation phase and insists any decision would be subject to approval through its governance structures.
The proposal has triggered a fierce backlash across football. UEFA has accused FIFA of crossing a line by attempting to commercialise the sport in a way that threatens its governance and integrity. Critics, including Blatter, argue that football’s biggest competitions should not be treated as assets for investors, while supporters of the proposal say it could unlock new funding for the global development of the game.
Blatter has been one of Infantino’s most vocal critics in recent weeks, having also called for new leadership at FIFA following a series of controversies surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
His latest remarks add further pressure on Infantino at a time when the governing body is defending its commercial strategy and its relationship with political leaders, including Trump. FIFA has maintained that its objective is to strengthen football worldwide and that it will retain control of its competitions.