Gary Lineker, a well-known English football commentator and former player, has said he chose not to work with FIFA again after being asked to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the 2018 World Cup draw. Lineker hosted the event in December 2017, just before the tournament in Russia, where other famous footballers like Pelé, Diego Maradona, Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho also met with Putin. Lineker declined the meeting, explaining he needed to prepare his script, and later admitted the situation made him feel uneasy, leading him to distance himself from FIFA, the governing body of world football. In a recent episode of his podcast, The Rest is Football, Lineker explained that staying independent from FIFA was important for his media work. He felt that being associated with the organization could compromise his ability to report without bias or influence. Lineker said he had made the decision to avoid any connection with FIFA deliberately since the beginning of the 2010s. Lineker also criticized FIFA President Gianni Infantino for wanting to run for a fourth term, calling the concentration of power in one person’s hands "oligarchic" and "dangerous." He expressed concern that such power could be abused, especially if leaders promise financial benefits to football federations in exchange for support. To address these concerns, Lineker suggested implementing strict term limits or a rotation system for the FIFA presidency, similar to how U.S. presidents are limited to two terms. He believes such measures would prevent powerful individuals from staying in control indefinitely and help ensure fairer governance in world football.