Sepp Blatter, the former president of FIFA, has launched a scathing attack on his successor, Gianni Infantino, calling him a "dictator" and suggesting he requires psychiatric assistance. The comments were made in an interview published on Wednesday by the German magazine Der Spiegel.

Blatter's Remarks

The 89-year-old Swiss football administrator did not hold back in his criticism of Infantino's leadership style. "He (Infantino) is behaving like a dictator," Blatter said. He further added, "He (Infantino) needs a psychiatrist." The specific context or incident that prompted these remarks was not immediately clear from the interview.

Background

Sepp Blatter served as FIFA president from 1998 until 2015, when he was suspended and subsequently banned from football activities over corruption charges. Gianni Infantino was elected as his successor in 2016. Since then, Blatter has been a vocal critic of Infantino's tenure and various FIFA decisions. However, this latest personal attack, using terms like "dictator" and suggesting a need for psychiatric help, represents a significant escalation in their long-standing feud.

Reaction

There was no immediate response from FIFA or Infantino following the publication of the interview. The remarks are widely seen as another chapter in the ongoing rift between the two most prominent figures in world football's governing body over the past decade.