Blatter Critiques Infantino's Leadership and Decisions

Sepp Blatter, the former FIFA president, criticized his successor Gianni Infantino in an interview with Der Spiegel, describing him as a dictator and suggesting he may need psychiatric help. Blatter condemned Infantino's decision to award a FIFA Peace Prize to United States President Donald Trump, labeling it embarrassing and questioning the rationale behind honoring Trump amidst tensions with Iran.

He accused Infantino of fostering an environment of fear among FIFA officials and using financial incentives to secure support for his re-election. Blatter also criticized Infantino's plans to sell part of FIFA's commercial rights after the 2026 World Cup, which faced strong opposition.

Additionally, Blatter expressed discontent with FIFA's decision to overturn the suspension of United States striker Folarin Balogun following a red card during the summer's World Cup, arguing that it undermined the consistency of football regulations. FIFA defended Infantino's leadership and the decision regarding Balogun's suspension.