On August 3 – According to multiple media reports, FIFA President Gianni Infantino's position is precarious, with several football associations openly opposing his re-election. Earlier, Andy Dunn, Chief Sports Writer for The Mirror, published a scathing critique of Infantino's actions before and during the FIFA World Cup.

Opinion Piece

In February 2016, when Infantino was elected FIFA President, his predecessor sent a congratulatory message. Sepp Blatter wrote: "I warmly and sincerely congratulate Gianni Infantino on his election as the new President. With his experience, professionalism, strategic vision, and diplomatic skills, he possesses all the qualities to continue my work."

You were absolutely right, Sepp. He indeed took over the mess you left behind... and even made it worse. Fortunately, Infantino's term is finally coming to an end.

It's hard to imagine he has any chance of staying on now; the only question is how and when he will step down. The next focus will be on who will succeed Infantino, who was widely praised when he took office a decade ago.

Then-FA Chairman Greg Dyke commented: "He is not a politician, nor is he vain. FIFA has been held by vain people for too long, he is the kind of person who just gets down to work."

Don't worry, Greg, you're not the only one who made such a big mistake. The problem was that everyone in football at the time had an "anyone but Blatter" (ABB) mentality.

Now, as candidates for Infantino's successor emerge, the situation might still be the same. The current frontrunner is 60-year-old Canadian Victor Montagliani, who is currently the President of CONCACAF.

FIFA's Swedish Secretary General, Mattias Grafström, is highly respected within the organization. And Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, who has been the President of the AFC since 2013, was Infantino's rival in 2016, losing by a narrow margin. These potential successors all have good reputations in football management circles, but so did Infantino when he took office.

Let's not forget, until Infantino launched that incredible FIFA World Cup "fire sale" plan, he enjoyed overwhelming support from member associations. This undoubtedly raises the question: should FIFA be controlled by an autocratic football administrator? The answer is clearly no.

One of the few positive initiatives Infantino took was promoting the "FIFA Legends" program. Most of the time, you might think he did this just to play football with famous retired players and watch matches with them from the stands, but regardless, it's always good to see legends of the sport involved in promotion.

Over the years, football legends have also been involved in management—with mixed results, it must be said. The most prominent example is Michel Platini, whose UEFA presidency ended in scandal. But the world's most popular sport doesn't need an autocratic administrator who uses political maneuvering to push unpopular reforms; it needs a spiritual leader.

This person doesn't need extra fame, or even extra wealth. FIFA itself has numerous committees, and daily affairs can be managed entirely by these committees.

What football needs is a leader who can symbolize the sport, not an opportunist skilled at flattery and eager to curry favor with the powerful and famous, nor does it need a lawyer or a socialite.

In May 2015, when Blatter was elected president for the fifth time, Luís Figo had planned to run. Although he withdrew from the race in the later stages, he was once a very compelling candidate.

He is still a suitable candidate today, and there is also a large pool of globally renowned retired male and female players to consider. Perhaps Sir David Beckham would also be willing to step forward.

But back to the main point: Infantino must step down, and the presidency needs a change of direction. The world of football doesn't need an administrator who gets carried away by power; it needs a spiritual leader who embodies all the beautiful qualities of the sport.

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