Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has described his successor Gianni Infantino as a “dictator” and said he may need psychiatric treatment, in an interview published by Der Spiegel on Wednesday.
Blatter, 90, strongly criticised Infantino over the creation of the FIFA Peace Prize for US President Donald Trump before this year’s World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
He also condemned plans to sell part of the World Cup’s commercial rights after the tournament. The proposal was later abandoned following a fierce backlash.
“FIFA is suffering. It is currently led by a person who has allowed himself to be blinded,” Blatter told the German magazine.
He called the Peace Prize “embarrassing”, questioning why Infantino had introduced it.
“Infantino awards a peace prize to someone who wages war against Iran shortly afterwards? That’s madness,” Blatter said.
The former FIFA chief claimed Infantino had been able to gather support for his re-election by promising national football associations increased funding.
“‘If you vote for me,’ he tells the national associations, ‘you will get much more money than before,’” Blatter said.
“He is a dictator. People in FIFA tell me that no one is allowed to ride in the elevator with him. He is ‘untouchable’.”
Blatter also attacked Infantino’s proposed World Cup rights sale, saying: “Infantino no longer knows any borders. He doesn’t understand any of this.
“I mean, maybe Infantino should be sent to a psychiatric ward one day.”
He further criticised FIFA’s decision to overturn the suspension resulting from a red card shown to USA striker Folarin Balogun after intervention by Trump before a crucial match at this summer’s World Cup.
“The red card. That’s the worst. Statutes can be interpreted. But rules of the game must apply to everyone, you can’t interpret them,” Blatter said.
When approached by AFP, FIFA referred to an earlier response issued to Der Spiegel. The governing body rejected claims that Infantino had acted improperly, saying he “is fulfilling his duties as president through his travels”.
It also said: “The suspension imposed on Folarin Balogun following a red card was lifted by independent FIFA judicial bodies.”
On Blatter’s claim about the elevator, FIFA said: “Mr. Infantino does indeed use the elevator at FIFA, but does so when other people are present.”
Blatter led FIFA from 1998 until resigning in disgrace in 2015 amid corruption allegations, including claims that he had attempted to buy votes for his presidency. Charges were brought against him, but he was cleared in two trials and later banned from football by FIFA’s ethics committee.
He told Der Spiegel that he had “no regrets” about his time in charge.
Japanese official Kozo Tashima has announced plans to challenge Infantino in the next election, while Blatter backed World Athletics president Sebastian Coe.
“It is not important who is running. What is important is that the incumbent president is no longer elected,” Blatter said.
“Coe was also chairman of the FIFA Ethics Committee. He is a strong personality. A president from the motherland of football, England, would be good.”
Blatter added that he had not spoken to Infantino since early 2016.
