Gianni Infantino faces mounting pressure as Luis Figo joins calls for FIFA resignation

Gianni Infantino arrived in Morocco on Wednesday for a crucial FIFA meeting as pressure intensified on the organisation’s president, with Portugal great Luis Figo becoming the latest high-profile figure to call for his resignation.

Infantino summoned senior FIFA officials to the Moroccan city of Sale for crisis talks after plans to sell stakes in the World Cup, reportedly worth £3.1bn, were leaked last week.

The proposals were later withdrawn by the Swiss official following widespread opposition, including a rebellion within FIFA itself.

UEFA and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) are calling for Infantino to step down. UEFA has also formally announced that it has withdrawn its confidence in the FIFA president.

The campaign against Infantino has gathered further momentum after Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, president of the Jordan Football Association, accused him of “blackmail”. Jordan has become the first Asian country to rebel against Infantino.

Jordan is now the 91st member to take action against the FIFA president, on the assumption that all national associations belonging to UEFA and CONCACAF will follow the positions of their respective continental confederations.

Infantino’s opponents need the backing of 106 national associations to remove him from office.

A car carrying Infantino was seen arriving at FIFA’s regional office for Africa in Sale on Wednesday morning, according to the British newspaper the Daily Mail.

The meeting comes as the president confronts growing resistance over both the proposed World Cup commercial arrangements and his wider leadership of the governing body.

According to The Times, people close to Infantino attempted to persuade a group known as the FIFA Legends to publicly declare their support for him. Those efforts were unsuccessful.

The group includes several former international football stars who are paid to take part in official events and activities organised by FIFA.

Figo’s decision to join the calls for Infantino to resign adds further weight to the opposition facing the president before the meetings in Morocco. The former Portugal international is regarded as one of the most prominent football figures to have spoken out during the dispute.

Infantino’s retreat from the £3.1bn World Cup stake-sale proposals has not ended the controversy. Instead, opposition from UEFA and CONCACAF, the public loss of UEFA’s confidence and Jordan’s challenge have kept the issue at the centre of FIFA’s internal crisis.

The number of national associations backing the move against Infantino remains below the 106 required for his removal, but the latest developments have increased the pressure on the FIFA president as he holds talks with senior officials in Sale.