Who is the president in FIFA: Trump or Infantino? Bladder expects a comback

According to The Telegraph, former Fifa president Sepp Blatter has delivered a wide ranging critique of Gianni Infantino and the current direction of world football in comments made from his home in Zurich ahead of the next World Cup.

Cleared of criminal charges earlier last year (2025), the 89 year old said in an interview early in december, that he would be closely watching developments as FIFA's leadership was preparing for a high profile appearances in Washington alongside the US president.

A rivalry that never ended

Blatter told The Telegraph that he now avoids saying Gianni Infantino’s name, referring to him only as “my successor” or “the leader”. He described Infantino as increasingly distant from football’s core concerns and absorbed by global political influence.

“He has disappeared,” Blatter said. “He’s in a sphere where tomorrow he will organise football in the stratosphere.”

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Blatter criticised the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams and the growing trend of spreading tournaments across multiple continents, arguing that sporting logic has been overtaken by ambition and image.

When politics enters the pitch

According to Blatter, Infantino’s close relationships with political leaders threaten the independence of football’s governing structures. He said national associations have failed to challenge this shift.

“We have 211 national associations and not one single association who is opposed to the work of the new president who speaks only with heads of states,” Blatter said.

He warned that political involvement could lead to governments influencing where and how matches are played, fundamentally changing the nature of the game.

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Trump, influence and blurred leadership

Blatter also questioned Infantino’s relationship with US president Donald Trump, suggesting that personal alliances now overshadow football’s interests.

The Telegraph recently spoke to Infantino’s predecessor Sepp Blatter, who offered a pointed remark about the balance of power at the top of the sport.

“My successor, I really don’t know whether it’s Trump or Infantino,” the 89 year old said.

Blatter argued that while friendships between leaders are not inherently wrong, he sees little evidence that football benefits from such closeness.

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The peace prize controversy

Blatter was especially critical of Fifa’s decision to introduce a peace prize to be awarded to Trump.

“They should not have given the award,” Blatter said. “Football should not give the prize of peace.”

He questioned the legitimacy of creating a new award rather than recognising peace efforts through established international institutions.

Saudi Arabia’s growing role

Blatter simultaneously accused Saudi Arabia of gaining outsized influence over global football following its successful bid to host the 2034 World Cup and its increasing financial involvement in the sport.

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“Saudi Arabia has now taken football into jeopardy,” he said. “They are the directors of football.”

Fifa has stated that its bidding processes for recent World Cups followed established and transparent procedures, according to official Fifa statements.

Discipline, players and pressure

Commenting on the reduction of Cristiano Ronaldo’s suspension, Blatter said disciplinary decisions should not be overridden by executive authority.

“This is a principle that should not be accepted,” he said, adding that disciplinary systems should function independently, like courts.

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Blatter also echoed concerns raised by players over congested calendars and the constant introduction of new competitions.

“There is too much football in the world,” he said.

An unresolved legacy and lingering ambition

Despite his controversial past, Blatter told The Telegraph that he has not entirely ruled out a return to Fifa once his suspension expires.

“I am still the elected president,” he said, before acknowledging the limits of age. “I hope I am still alive.”

While Fifa has dismissed the prospect of leadership change, Blatter’s remarks underline the continuing power struggles within football’s governing body and the unresolved question of who truly shapes the future of the game.

Sources: The Telegraph, Fifa statements