Germany's 2014 World Cup-winning captain Philipp Lahm has lambasted FIFA for its treatment of the global event and says Gianni Infantino's relationship with leaders such as US President Donald Trump is troublesome.
"The most worrying thing is Gianni Infantino's closeness to rulers such as Donald Trump," Lahm wrote in German newspaper Die Zeit on Tuesday.
"The World Cup is being sold off. That robs football of credibility."
People are involved in football "who have something else in mind, something shady," added the former Bayern Munich right back.
He specifically denounced high World Cup ticket prices at the current extravaganza in North America.
"FIFA maximizes them by not giving honest information about the true demand," he said.
For Lahm, the World Cup must remain on its four-year cycle after Infantino previously tried to hold it every two years.
"A tournament needs preparation and follow-up to have a sustainable effect," added the retired 42-year-old, who helped organize Euro 2024 in Germany.
"The bloated Club World Cup has condensed the already packed calendar. With an additional tournament over several weeks and in some cases extreme temperatures, the burden on the players has increased further."
Lahm, however, praised Infantino's expansion of the men's World Cup from 32 to 48 teams.
"It is FIFA's job to continue developing football everywhere. That only works through participation. Differences in quality have to be accepted," he said.
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