Just three words, the Portuguese legend puts FIFA President in a tight spot

Luis Figo recently made a forceful declaration against FIFA President Gianni Infantino, against the backdrop of the world's most influential football authority needing to convene an urgent meeting to handle a severe crisis.

Pressure on FIFA President Gianni Infantino continues to mount after Portuguese football legend Luis Figo publicly called for him to step down from his position.

In a commentary shared with CNN, Figo used three short but powerful words: "Infantino must leave" - meaning: "Infantino must go".

"I could write 10,000 words about the issues at FIFA. But the solution only needs three words: Infantino must go", the 53-year-old former star emphasized.

Figo's statement came at the exact moment when Infantino was holding a meeting with senior FIFA officials, after being forced to withdraw a controversial plan related to the commercial rights of the World Cup and many major tournaments.

According to the initial proposal, FIFA wanted to set up a separate legal entity, with the involvement of private investors, to control the commercial rights and operate the World Cup. This plan quickly encountered a strong wave of opposition from fans and many football organizations.

UEFA declared that "the soul and governance mechanisms of football are not assets to be bought and sold." The pressure grew even greater when Carlos Cordeiro, a senior advisor to Infantino, resigned in protest against the plan.

Faced with the fierce backlash, the FIFA chief was forced to back down. However, that move could not appease Figo.

The former Real Madrid and Barcelona star described Infantino's behavior as a manifestation of "deceit, cowardice, and putting personal interests above all else." He believes that the FIFA President has severely damaged the reputation of the position he holds.

"The person who seeks to push through major changes just to enrich himself and his friends is a relic of the past and should have no place in the future of football", Figo wrote.

According to the 2000 Ballon d'Or winner, selling ownership rights to private investment funds carries many long-term risks. Once shares have been transferred, FIFA could permanently lose control over its most valuable assets.

FIFA previously explained that the money raised from the plan would be reinvested into football. However, Figo believes the proposal lacks transparency, especially regarding the level of profit that private investors could demand.

Notably, not all federations oppose Infantino. While football governing bodies in Europe, Asia, North and Central America have voiced criticism, the African Football Confederation has not yet issued an official stance. Some top African football officials still express support for the FIFA President.

The crisis marks a major turning point for Infantino. Just a few weeks ago, he still received pledges of support for re-election from about 200 of the 211 member associations.