FIFA President Gianni Infantino targeted by Times Square protest

Protesters targeted FIFA President Gianni Infantino with a digital billboard campaign in New York City's Times Square. The display, located at Broadway and West 43rd Street, called for his removal from the football governing body, using slogans such as ‘FIFA deserves a leader, not a merchant’ and ‘Football confederations: exclude Infantino’.

The initiative, led by a group identifying as football fans, accuses Infantino of prioritizing commercial interests over the sport. This protest follows controversy surrounding the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which faced opposition from UEFA, Concacaf, and Asian football organizations.

While the protesters claim Infantino attempted to ‘sell the World Cup,’ FIFA has denied any wrongdoing, characterizing the accusations as a ‘smear campaign.’ The tension comes as UEFA considers legal action regarding the failed commercial project.