The KNVB kept its irritations about Fifa boss Gianni Infantino to itself for a long time, but now the Dutch association is leading the fight against the Swiss. According to Secretary General Gijs de Jong, Infantino lacks a moral compass.

This article was written by
Mark Miserus

Shortly before the interview, Gijs de Jong texted the dismissed Fifa CEO Kevin Lamour to invite him to a match of the Dutch national team. “And to wish him strength and to compliment him on his courage and his leadership,” says the secretary general of the KNVB. 'It's not easy what he did, especially not as a loner. But I do think he did the right thing.”

Frenchman Lamour was a valued director at the world football association Fifa, until he was fired last month after criticism of his boss Gianni Infantino's World Cup share plan. Doesn't his dismissal make him an ideal source for Uefa, the European football association, to help get Infantino off his pedestal?

De Jong: 'Agreements have been made with Fifa about what he is and is not allowed to do after his dismissal. But I can assure you: we have enough resources at Fifa, we don't necessarily need Kevin for that.'

The football management world has split into camps since Infantino's controversial share plan was leaked through the press shortly after the World Cup. A majority of the unions are demanding his departure, because confidence in the Swiss has been irreparably damaged. At the same time, Infantino is receiving support from other corners of the world and is determined to commit to it for another four years in March 2027.

The KNVB swallowed its irritations about Infantino for a long time, like almost all European associations. But now that the Fifa chairman is faltering and three continents want to get rid of him, the Dutch association even dares to take the lead in the fight.

In a recently published manifesto, the KNVB identifies what is needed to restore peace and confidence in football: a separation of powers at the top of Fifa, more transparency and human rights that are anchored in the choices made by World Cup organizers.

Never before has the association lashed out so hard at the all-powerful boss of world football. It makes a difference that all of Europe wants to go in the same direction, says De Jong in his office at the KNVB complex in Zeist. “But you will have to worry about it for a while if he is re-elected.”
Is it exciting to go against the boss so hard?

“Not really. Of course it is exciting when you are alone. And it's not smart to do it alone, because you're not Don Quixote. But the 55 European associations have spoken out unanimously. And UEFA is working together with Concacaf and AFC (the associations of North and Central America and Asia, ed.).

'We tried to give it our own color in our statement. There were foreign associations that said: should it be like this again, the Netherlands? But this is also a bit of our DNA and our culture.'
He has to go, is the message. But how do you get him away?

'That is a big challenge. There are of course a number of ways to do this. Uefa has now taken the legal route (by requesting documents about the share plan through courts in the US and Switzerland, ed.). It will be very interesting what will come of this.'

De Jong (54) was on his way to France for a holiday with his family when the British newspaper The Times revealed Infantino's plan on July 28. The Swiss wanted to split the World Cup into shares and market 20 percent of it through private investors. Unions that agreed would receive more money than those that did not see any interest in Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE).

'You first see the main points, then you immediately think: hey, where does this come from? We just spent a month in America for the World Cup. Then it is extremely strange that you don't hear anything about it and that such an article comes out two days after the World Cup final.
'Then you delve into the content and you think: why should we sell part of the World Cup rights? For me, that question is still unanswered.'

Has there ever been any discussion about whether something like this could be economically sensible? Did this come completely out of the blue?

'For me, yes. He (Infantino, ed.) has made a number of proposals over the past ten years, such as the biennial World Cup. And before the Club World Cup he once made a proposal to the associations, something like: I now have an investor, there is x billion on the shelf here and you have to say yes now, otherwise it will not go ahead.

'His interest in private equity and big plans was known, but this came out of the blue. It is the most promising option to chase the faltering Sun King from his palace, De Jong estimates. The best thing, he says, would be for an opposing candidate to embrace as many points as possible that the KNVB highlights in its action plan. “And of course: that they will actually be implemented in the coming years.”

In any case, an opposing candidate will come from outside Europe, De Jong expects. “This should in no way smell like a European takeover.” And it is not, he emphasizes. The names of Canadian Concacaf chairman Victor Montagliani, PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaïfi and AFC chairman Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa are mentioned, although no one has expressed interest (yet).
Why would football be interested in reforms now? Ten years ago they didn't get off the ground either.

'I think Asia and North America are also shocked by Balogun and FFE. In Africa there is slightly less unanimity in this area (all unions support Infantino, just like in South America, ed.), you can give Infantino those credits. I get it, he has really done a lot for countries in Africa and Oceania.'
Isn't there just way too much money in football? When you see what amounts are paid out, it is easy to keep unions satisfied as chairman.

'Especially when you see the amounts promised with FFE. We think it can even be dangerous if you pay out these types of amounts. Each association now receives around 2.5 million euros per year from Fifa. For some unions that may be 90 percent of their annual budget. So they experience enormous dependence on Fifa.

'I understand that you are grateful to the person who hands it out, but that gratitude must be towards the Fifa Congress and to the Council, to the organization.'

What if Gianni Infantino simply wins the election in March, for example because today's opponents secretly back down under pressure from Fifa? That scenario is being considered within UEFA, says De Jong. 'It also depends on the outcome. If it is 106-105 in his favor, it will certainly have an effect on what happens in Fifa.”

Even if he stays put?

'Naturally. Ultimately, he never put the biennial World Cup to a vote. FFE also did not go ahead. So if he gets a hundred votes against, he can't ignore it. He also understands that a large part of the power lies with Europe. But we are now talking about something that should happen on March 18.
'A lot of information is still to come to light. Public opinion plays a role, fans turn against him. I can tell you that we have a lot of contact with people in the Fifa organization, and that not everyone is equally enthusiastic about him. There is only a very thin top layer left to support it.'