A prominent billboard in New York City's Times Square is calling for the removal of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, unveiled by a group of international soccer fans on Friday, September 4, 2026. The display, located at the corner of 1500 Broadway and West 43rd Street, accuses Infantino of "blackmail" and "threats" related to a clandestine plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to Joshua Kushner.
Organizers stated their belief that they represent the feelings of fans globally regarding Infantino and the perceived threat he poses to the future of football. They allege that Infantino deceived and threatened FIFA leadership to facilitate the sale of international football assets to individuals they describe as having "ties to deeply unsavory activities" and "no interest in the fans except as profit centers."
The controversy follows Infantino's earlier decision to award President Donald Trump a newly created "FIFA Peace Prize" and invite him to present the World Cup trophy. The alleged plan involving Kushner, which reportedly would have generated millions for Infantino, has drawn significant backlash and calls for his resignation from various governing bodies, including UEFA.
UEFA has accused FIFA of a "smear campaign" in response to legal applications made through American courts to access documents concerning FIFA's "controversial private investor plan." UEFA is seeking evidence related to FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a company envisioned to manage the World Cup and other FIFA competitions.
Fans are urged by the billboard organizers to make Infantino "persona non grata" at stadiums and to demand that confederations remove him. They are also calling for confederations and federations to revoke invitations and ban Infantino from tournaments and matches. Protests at matches, tifos calling for his removal, and boycotts of FIFA events are also encouraged.
"Gianni Infantino is not a leader, he is a dealer who tried to sell the World Cup and more disturbingly, the children's World Cup," the organizers stated. "We should all be shocked and disgusted by the latter."
Infantino was recently approached by a Sky News reporter in the Caribbean regarding calls for his resignation and allegations of betrayal. When questioned, Infantino made light of the situation, making comments about the reporter's haircut and suggesting they would meet at the hairdressers.
