Times Square billboard targets Infantino: "FIFA deserves a leader, not a trafficker"

The fight for control of FIFA moved this Friday to one of the most visible stages on the planet. A giant advertising screen in New York's Times Square woke up carrying two direct messages against Gianni Infantino: “FIFA deserves a leader, not a trafficker” and “Football confederations: exclude Infantino”. The display comes amid growing controversy over the governing body's plan to sell part of the World Cup rights to private investors.

What the Times Square billboard against Infantino showed

The digital screen went live at 6:00 in the morning at the corner of Broadway and West 43rd Street, an area crossed every day by tens of thousands of pedestrians. A collective presenting itself as football supporters is behind the initiative, and it accuses the Swiss-Italian executive of putting commercial interests ahead of the sport's core values.

The campaign is not an isolated gesture. It follows weeks of rising tension around FIFA's project to open the door to external capital for the exploitation of certain assets linked to the World Cup, a move that has sparked unease within football itself.

• The billboard appeared at 6:00 a.m. at Broadway and West 43rd Street.
• It carried two slogans: “FIFA deserves a leader, not a trafficker” and “Football confederations: exclude Infantino”.
• The campaign was launched by a fan group critical of the priority given to commercial interests.
• The underlying dispute concerns the plan to sell part of the World Cup rights to outside investors.

Why FIFA and UEFA have taken their battle to US courts

The institutional clash goes well beyond the screens of New York. On 28 August, UEFA's Executive Committee approved a move to access all documents, communications and minutes related to the contacts held over the possible sale of World Cup rights. UEFA filed its request in the United States rather than in Switzerland, the country where both organizations are based.

The European body argued at the time that it was necessary to exhaust “all available institutional, political and legal channels” to push for deep reform, restore the limits on presidential authority and ensure that FIFA is once again governed as an institution rather than around a single figure.

FIFA's defense: Linklaters and a motion to block UEFA's request

FIFA has not taken long to respond. To protect its interests it has turned to the prestigious international law firm Linklaters and has already asked US judges to reject or block UEFA's request for documentation. Its main argument is that the European move responds to a political and media strategy rather than a real legal need.

The world football governing body also argues that no judicial proceeding is open in Switzerland or any other country that would justify UEFA having access to those papers. It adds that, even if an investigation were underway, UEFA would lack standing to request them because it has not suffered any harm.

Why UEFA chose the United States instead of Switzerland

One of the most talked-about aspects of this legal battle is the choice of venue. FIFA interprets UEFA's decision to go to US courts as a deliberate attempt to avoid the Swiss justice system, where both entities are headquartered and where the internal affairs of world football have traditionally been settled.

FIFA also warns that disclosing the requested documents could cause significant damage, since they contain confidential information linked to commercial negotiations that are still ongoing.

What role FIFA's presidential elections play in this conflict

The entire dispute is unfolding with an eye on the next FIFA presidential election. For now, Gianni Infantino remains the only declared candidate. The deadline to submit nominations expires on 18 November, a date that shapes the immediate calendar of international football.

That backdrop reinforces the view that the clash between UEFA and FIFA is not only about commercial rights. It is also part of a broader struggle over the governance model that will define world football in the years to come.

“FIFA deserves a leader, not a trafficker” and “Football confederations: exclude Infantino” — the two messages visible in Times Square on Friday.