Former FIFA boss Sepp Blatter has slammed current chief Gianni Infantino, calling his successor a \u201cdictator\u201d and suggesting he needs psychiatric help, in an interview with Der Spiegel published Wednesday.\n<\/p>\n
Blatter, 90, criticised Infantino\u2019s decision to create the FIFA Peace Prize award for US President Donald Trump in the lead-up to this year\u2019s World Cup, hosted in the US, Canada and Mexico.\n<\/p>\n
He was also critical of Infantino\u2019s post-World Cup plans to sell off part of the commercial rights of the competition in the future, which was scrapped after a fierce backlash.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cFIFA is suffering. It is currently led by a person who has allowed himself to be blinded,\u201d Blatter told the German magazine.<\/p>\n
The Peace Prize, he said, was \u201cembarrassing\u201d.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would he do something like that?\u201d Blatter asked. \u201cInfantino awards a peace prize to someone who wages war against Iran shortly afterwards? That\u2019s madness.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Blatter said it was easy for Infantino to secure support for his own re-election from national football bodies.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018If you vote for me,\u2019 he tells the national associations, \u2018you will get much more money than before.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is a dictator. People in FIFA tell me that no one is allowed to ride in the elevator with him. He is \u2018untouchable\u2019.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Speaking of Infantino\u2019s World Cup sale plans, Blatter said, \u201cInfantino no longer knows any borders. He doesn\u2019t understand any of this.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, maybe Infantino should be sent to a psychiatric ward one day.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Blatter was also critical of FIFA\u2019s decision to suspend a red card awarded to USA striker Folarin Balogun after Trump intervened ahead of a crucial match at this summer\u2019s World Cup.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThe red card. That\u2019s the worst. Statutes can be interpreted. But rules of the game must apply to everyone; you can\u2019t interpret them.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\u2013 \u2018Fulfilling his duties\u2019: FIFA \u2013<\/strong><\/p>\n When contacted for comment by AFP, however, FIFA pointed to its previous response to Der Spiegel, which countered Blatter\u2019s statements. <\/p>\n FIFA rebutted allegations that Infantino had acted inappropriately, saying he \u201cis fulfilling his duties as president through his travels,\u201d while adding, \u201cThe suspension imposed on Folarin Balogun following a red card was lifted by independent FIFA judicial bodies.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \u201cMr Infantino does indeed use the elevator at FIFA, but does so when other people are present,\u201d FIFA said in the statement.\n<\/p>\n President of FIFA from 1998, Blatter resigned in disgrace in 2015 amid corruption allegations, including accusations he had sought to buy votes for his presidency.\n<\/p>\n Charges were brought against him, but Blatter was eventually cleared in two trials and was banned from football by FIFA\u2019s ethics committee.\n<\/p>\n Blatter told the magazine he had \u201cno regrets\u201d from his time in charge of the organisation.\n<\/p>\n Japanese official Kozo Tashima has announced<\/a> plans to run against Infantino in his re-election bid, but Blatter named World Athletics president Sebastian Coe as his pick to take over FIFA.<\/p>\n