Fans demand FIFA president resign in Times Square billboard

Football fans have launched a public campaign calling for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign, unveiling a large billboard in New York’s Times Square amid growing controversy surrounding his leadership.

The billboard went live at 6 a.m. ET on September 4 at the corner of 1500 Broadway and West 43rd Street, demanding Infantino’s removal from the presidency of world football’s governing body, Daily Mail reports.

Infantino has faced criticism ahead of and during preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. One major controversy followed his decision to award US President Donald Trump a newly created FIFA Peace Prize and subsequently invite Trump to present the World Cup trophy to the tournament winners.

Further criticism emerged after reports that Infantino was planning a private investment structure involving Joshua Kushner. The proposal triggered opposition from several football governing bodies and calls for Infantino to step down, as well as threats of boycotts.

Organisers behind the Times Square campaign accused Infantino of putting commercial interests ahead of football, saying: “Gianni Infantino is not a leader, he is a dealer who tried to sell the World Cup and more disturbingly, the children's World Cup. We should all be shocked and disgusted by the latter.”

The controversy centres on plans that emerged in July to establish a company called FIFA Forward Enterprise to oversee FIFA’s major men’s and women’s tournaments. FIFA said the initiative could generate as much as $4.2 billion.

The proposal has faced opposition from UEFA, CONCACAF, the Asian Football Confederation and CONMEBOL. Infantino has received support from the Confederation of African Football, the Argentine Football Association and several national football associations.

FIFA has rejected criticism of the initiative and accused UEFA of conducting a “smear campaign” following legal applications seeking access to documents related to the proposed private investment structure.

Infantino, 56, has led FIFA since February 2016. The next FIFA presidential election is scheduled to take place in Morocco in March 2027.

By Sabina Mammadli