Former Chelsea player, Craig Burley, has hit out at ex-football stars for failing to slam FIFA president, Gianni Infantino following the failure of the FIFA World Cup plans.
He urged prominent players and FIFA chief, Arsene Wenger to speak out despite being paid by the football governing body.
In a discussion on ESPN, Burley said that FIFA’s integrity had diminished, asserting that the proposal to sell stakes to private investors was not a mistake but rather a calculated strategy that ultimately failed.
He remarked that Infantino was primarily focused on his own financial gain.
He said, “Every time I encounter the term FIFA alongside integrity, I find it amusing. The integrity of this organization has long since deteriorated; it was not a mistake, but a deliberate plan.
“It was designed for individuals to profit significantly, including Gianni Infantino himself. His salary was set to increase dramatically. They intended to sell various rights and so forth.”
Burley commended Luis Figo for publicly demanding Infantino’s resignation.
He desires to see more players and Wenger take a stand against the FIFA president, saying:
“I noticed Luis Figo recently criticized him. Where are all the other former players who receive compensation from FIFA? Step forward.
“Show some respect and slam this man. Slam this organization and prioritize the game over financial interests. Where are the others? They need to step up. They need to step up.
“Stop hiding until this situation resolves itself. It is not going away. This is paramount.
“These players, especially the high-profile ones on FIFA’s payroll, need to take action. And Arsene Wenger, where is he? He understands that this is wrong,” he said.
Gianni Infantino has abandoned his plans to sell stakes in the FIFA World Cup following widespread public backlash, including from football associations that have distanced themselves from him.