Philipp Lahm slams Gianni Infantino, says FIFA is ‘selling out’ the World Cup

XtraTime Web Desk: Germany's World Cup-winning captain Philipp Lahm has launched a scathing attack on FIFA president Gianni Infantino, accusing him of gradually "selling out" football's most prestigious tournament, the FIFA World Cup.

Writing in his column for German newspaper Die Zeit, Lahm expressed concern over the direction in which world football is heading under Infantino's leadership.

"The World Cup is being sold out. This robs football of its credibility. Fans are becoming increasingly uneasy, and it is getting harder to separate FIFA from the tournament itself," Lahm wrote.

The 2014 World Cup-winning captain did not limit his criticism to the World Cup alone. He also took aim at the expanded Club World Cup format, arguing that the tournament places an excessive physical burden on players and negatively impacts their fitness.

Lahm further questioned the ticket pricing strategy for the ongoing World Cup, alleging that FIFA is prioritising revenue generation over transparency.

"FIFA stands accused of not providing honest figures about the true demand and using this to maximise revenue," he said.

The German legend also voiced his opposition to the idea of staging the FIFA World Cup every two years. According to Lahm, a tournament of such magnitude requires adequate preparation and a meaningful aftermath to leave a lasting impact.

"A World Cup needs preparation and follow-up to create a lasting legacy. The idea of holding it so frequently worries me," he added.

However, Lahm did not oppose all of FIFA's recent decisions. He acknowledged that the governing body has taken positive steps in certain areas, particularly by expanding the World Cup to 48 teams. He believes the new format offers opportunities for emerging football nations such as Scotland, DR Congo and Cape Verde to create new stories on the global stage.

This is not the first time Lahm has criticised Infantino. During the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the former Germany captain accused the FIFA president of lacking "integrity and morality." His latest remarks, in which he claims that the World Cup is being "sold out," have once again sparked debate over FIFA's governance and the future of international football.