Hans-Joachim Watzke, one in every of German soccer’s vice presidents, provides to listing calling for Gianni Infantino’s resignation.
Printed On 18 Sep 2026
Gianni Infantino should go away the FIFA presidency “no ifs or buts”, in keeping with Hans-Joachim Watzke, one of many vice presidents of the German Soccer Affiliation (DFB), as he spoke at a competition devoted to synthetic intelligence in Berlin.
The DFB was one of many few federations to not signal a letter of help for Infantino’s re-election as FIFA president in six months’ time.
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“He has to go, no ifs or buts,” declared Watzke, who mentioned late on Thursday that three factors specifically counted towards the Swiss.
The primary was the FIFA Peace Prize, launched by Infantino and awarded in December 2025 to US President Donald Trump, to whom Infantino is shut, in the course of the draw for the 2026 World Cup.
Infantino “created this prize himself, and he selected it himself,” mentioned Watzke.
“You’ll be able to’t simply invent one thing by yourself after which announce it, it’s insanity,” mentioned Watzke.
Watzke additionally condemned the controversial dealing with of the Folarin Balogun pink card throughout this yr’s World Cup, which was hosted within the US, Canada and Mexico.
The American ahead was despatched off within the final 32 however his automated one-match suspension was lifted after a cellphone name from Trump to Infantino.
“It could’t be that when somebody will get despatched off, the top of state calls the FIFA president, and, remarkably, the entire thing is instantly overturned. That’s insanity,” mentioned Watzke.
The third situation was the challenge, unveiled on July 28 and dropped four days later, to create a industrial firm that might have been open to personal buyers and have become a focus of the rebel towards Infantino.
“It’s fully insane,” mentioned Watzke. “No person knew about it, his vice presidents in FIFA knew nothing, the Council knew nothing.”
DFB president Bernd Neuendorf mentioned earlier within the week in an interview with RTL/ntv tv that it was additionally time for Infantino to depart.
“The connection of belief with Gianni Infantino, beneath this FIFA management, has after all been fully shattered,” he mentioned.
“It’s essential that this Infantino system involves an finish.”
For now, Infantino is the only candidate for the FIFA presidency within the election scheduled for March 18, 2027, with candidacies open till November 18.
