Gianni Infantino has hilarious ‘top tier’ response when confronted about ‘betraying the game of football’

Gianni Infantino was full of jokes when he was asked about resigning over his plans to sell the World Cup.

The president has come under fire over his plan to change how FIFA makes money from the tournament.

Infantino, 56, supported a proposal that would have allowed private investors to buy a stake in a new FIFA business containing valuable commercial rights.

With calls for him to step down as president, Sky News’ US correspondent James Matthews asked why he had not left the role yet.

After tracking Infantino to a hotel in the Dominican Republic, Matthews, who is also bald, asked him whether he had ‘betrayed the game of football’, to which came the reply: “You have a nice haircut. Thank you so much.”

As the president walked away, Matthews added: “Why won’t you resign? Fans, FIFA associations want you to step down. Why won’t you? Have you betrayed the trust of FIFA?”

While stepping inside a black car, Infantino replied: “I’ll see you at the hairdressers.”

Infantino’s response has divided fans of the game, with one person tweeting: “His banter is top tier.”

A second added: “Let the man enjoy his holiday,” as another penned: “Ngl that was a good joke.”

Many others, meanwhile, were not happy with his response, with a fourth commenting: “Why would he ignore the questions? Literally makes him look worse.”

“Sky correspondent asking Infantino serious questions he didn't answer. A perfect example of Infantino's ignorance & arrogance, as if nothing has happened,” a fifth said.

Critics saw Infantino’s World Cup plan as effectively selling part of FIFA's World Cup business to private investors.

The proposal caused major backlash, as some senior football officials argued that such a big decision had been developed without enough consultation.

There were also concerns that private investors could gain too much influence over a competition that is supposed to be run for the benefit of world football.

Infantino eventually dropped the plan and apologised, saying: “Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions.

“Our purpose has always been - and will always be - to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.”

UEFA said ‘we unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors’.

“Some things are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale,” they added.

For years, Infantino has been accused of having too much control over FIFA, with suggestions that the organisation should be more transparent and that major decisions should involve more consultation with national football associations.

Infantino has also been criticised for his close relationship with Donald Trump. Critics argue that FIFA is supposed to remain politically neutral and that Infantino has sometimes become too involved with powerful politicians.

So, can he actually be sacked?

It's complicated. FIFA's president is elected by its 211 national football associations, so Infantino cannot simply be fired like the manager of a football club.

The more realistic way to remove him would be for enough football associations to turn against him and support another candidate in the 2027 FIFA presidential election.