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German Football Association (DFB) vice-president Hans-Joachim Watzke has called for FIFA president Gianni Infantino to leave office, saying there should be “no ifs or buts” about his departure.
Watzke made the comments during an artificial intelligence festival in Berlin, as criticism grows within parts of European football over Infantino’s leadership ahead of FIFA’s presidential election in 2027.
The DFB was among the few football associations that did not sign a letter supporting Infantino’s re-election bid, which would extend his leadership of the world’s governing football body.
According to Watzke, three major issues influenced his position. He criticised the FIFA Peace Prize, a new award Infantino introduced and presented in December 2025 to United States President Donald Trump during the draw for the 2026 World Cup.
“Infantino created this prize himself, and he decided on it himself,” Watzke said. “You can’t just invent something on your own and then announce it, it’s madness.”
Watzke also questioned FIFA’s handling of a red card incident involving United States forward Folarin Balogun during the 2026 World Cup, after the player’s automatic suspension was overturned following a reported phone call between Trump and 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,” Watzke said.
His third criticism centred on a proposal unveiled in July to create a FIFA commercial company open to private investors. The plan was withdrawn days later after attracting opposition from within football circles.
“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 has also expressed concerns about Infantino’s leadership, saying the relationship between FIFA’s leadership and some federations had broken down.
“The relationship of trust with Gianni Infantino, under this FIFA leadership, has of course been completely shattered,” Neuendorf said.
Infantino remains the only candidate for the FIFA presidency election scheduled for March 18, 2027. The deadline for other candidates to submit their nominations is November 18.
