Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterNow it is up to the fans, players and national associations to reclaim football and bring it back to its roots under new leadership.So said Sepp Blatter in a post on X on July 21, as the former FIFA President suggested World Cup 2026 was the year that the competition had lost its credibility in his latest dig at successor, Gianni Infantino.But that quote would have been just as relevant following Blatters resignation as the head of world footballs governing body in June 2015, amid a huge corruption investigation into top FIFA officials. The fact that Blatter is now lecturing Infantino as if he is a moral arbiter of the sport is an embarrassing look for him, FIFA and football.How can Sepp Blatter criticise Gianni Infantino with a straight face?Blatter is not the most prolific poster on X, as you might expect from someone who turned 90 in March. However, the man who calls himself a Football Philosopher in his bio has upped his social media game this summer, with the World Cup and Infantinos doomed plan to sell off stakes in the tournament and other FIFA competitions to private investors giving him plenty to talk about.Since June 13, the Swiss has shared several posts on X criticising FIFA over various issues including the decision to overturn USA striker Folarin Baloguns one-match ban after President Donald Trump waded in, the World Cup final half-time show and Infantinos investment proposal. Those posts are almost always accompanied by the hashtags #GianniInfantino and #DonaldTrump. You may like Could Luis Figo become the first former footballer to be FIFA president? Portuguese legend drops explosive Gianni Infantino statement Who could replace Gianni Infantino as FIFA president? FIFA president Gianni Infantino is Donald Trumps choice for key United Nations role Blatters views are certainly valid and will be shared by millions of fans (whats that meme about the worst person you know making a great point?) but it is frankly incredible that he can write them with a straight face.In two of his posts, the former FIFA chief used the Latin phrase Quo vadis, which means where are you going?. This was Blatter seemingly questioning FIFAs direction of travel under Infantino - something he may have wanted to consider during his own tenure.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Between his election in 1998 and resignation 17 years later, the organisation was dogged by numerous scandals including allegations of corruption and the controversial decision in 2010 to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively. This culminated in the investigation in 2015, which saw seven top FIFA officials arrested in Zurich on the eve of the FIFA Congress, with Blatter resigning days later.It is important to note here that Blatter was not one of the officials arrested and he was cleared last year of corruption charges stemming from his time at FIFA, which related to a payment of 2m Swiss francs (now about �1.84m) he made to then-UEFA President Michel Platini in 2011.However, he was banned from football for eight years - reduced to six on appeal - by FIFAs ethics committee in 2015, before receiving a further suspension of six years and eight months in March 2021 for multiple breaches of FIFAs Code of Ethics, including the articles entitled duty of loyalty, conflicts of interest and offering and accepting gifts or other benefits. What to read next Andy Burnham weighs in with strong message against Gianni Infantino row amid FIFA chaos How much does Gianni Infantino earn? Gianni Infantino has issued a $40 million ultimatum over despicable World Cup sell-off plan It is why Blatter must surely see the irony in saying the World Cup has lost its credibility, when the bidding process to host the 2018 and 2022 tournaments was overshadowed by allegations of corruption. More than half of the 22 members of FIFAs Executive Committee, which decided the World Cup hosts, have since been handed punishments ranging from fines to lifetime bans from football.It is why Blatters criticism of Infantinos World Cup sell-off plan lost some weight when, in another post, he said that FIFA has a fiduciary responsibility to protect the global game.Fiduciary means to put someone else's interests ahead of your own, which doesnt tally with the 2014 report by US attorney Michael Garcia into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding processes. Garcia stated the Executive Committee under Blatter had a culture of expectation and entitlement and that many members displayed a disregard for ethical guidelines.It is also why FIFA should be embarrassed that they are being lectured by their former President, whose resignation in 2015 was supposed to represent a turning point.As hard as it is to believe now, Infantino was seen as the man to restore FIFAs reputation when he was elected in February 2016. Then-FA chairman Greg Dyke hailed Infantino as a straightforward guy, while David Gill, the former Manchester United chief executive who was Vice-President of FIFA at the time, called it a good day for football.Meanwhile, Infantino said: Well restore the image of FIFA and make sure everybody will be happy with what we do.Needless to say, it hasnt worked out that way.Among many unpopular decisions, we have seen the World Cup expanded to 48 teams (and potentially 64 in 2030), the 2030 competition awarded to three continents to smooth the way for Saudi Arabia to host in 2034, a 32-team summer Club World Cup with Infantinos name engraved on the trophy, the creation of the FIFA Peace Prize in a desperate attempt to suck up to Trump, sky-high World Cup ticket prices and, of course, Infantinos sell-off plan, which could cost him the presidency.When you consider all of that, Blatter looks like the lesser of two evils - and that is why football should be embarrassed.Even when FIFAs reputation was in the gutter in 2015, many of the decisions that have happened on Infantinos watch would have sounded ridiculous.Yet before his World Cup investment plan blew up in his face, more than 200 of FIFAs 211 member associations had backed Infantino for re-election, which shows how untouchable he had become.Countries and confederations have since joined forces in a bid to remove him from office, but the fact they let so much slide beforehand doesnt inspire confidence that football will be brought back to its roots, as Blatter apparently hopes.Its too late for that now - and Blatter must accept he helped create what football has become.TOPICSSepp BlatterGianni InfantinoWorld Cup 2026World CupJames RobertsFreelance writerJames Roberts is a freelance sports journalist working for FourFourTwo and other titles. He started his career at the Oxford Mail, where he covered Oxford United home and away, before becoming a sports sub-editor for various national newspapers.
