Infantino deflects resignation questions with quip about reporter's haircut
Gianni Infantino responded to a reporter's questions about stepping down by joking about his haircut, amid calls for his resignation.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino deflected questions about his future on Saturday with a lighthearted remark about a reporter's appearance. As he left a hotel in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, a journalist asked whether he had betrayed football and why he would not resign. Infantino responded by complimenting the reporter's haircut and saying he would see him at the hairdresser's.
The exchange came days after a coalition of fan groups from around the world launched a petition calling for Infantino's resignation. The groups, including Football Supporters Europe, Football Supporters Africa, and the Independent Supporters Council, along with about 40 national fan organisations, accused the FIFA president of attempting to sell future World Cup profits to private investors. The plan was dropped after widespread criticism.
The petition, using the hashtag InfantinOut, also calls for FIFA to be restructured to prevent a similar situation from recurring. Infantino has faced pressure from European football's governing body UEFA, as well as from CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation. However, he continues to receive support from several member federations, including Morocco, Qatar, and Lebanon.