Infantino's Senior Adviser Resigns as Opposition to FIFA Investment Plan Mounts

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has suffered a major setback after his senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned in protest over the governing body's controversial proposal to allow private investors to acquire stakes in the commercial rights to the FIFA World Cup and other major tournaments. The resignation comes as opposition to the plan continues to grow across the global football community.

Cordeiro, a former president of the United States Soccer Federation, announced his immediate resignation, distancing himself from the proposed investment model. In a strongly worded statement, he described the initiative as "a bad deal for football," insisting that he had no involvement in developing the proposal and could not support a plan he believes would mortgage the future of the sport.

The proposal centres on the creation of a new commercial entity, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which would manage the commercial rights of the World Cup and other FIFA competitions. Under the plan, up to a 20 per cent stake in the venture could be sold to private investors as part of efforts to generate additional revenue for football development worldwide.

However, the initiative has triggered widespread resistance from football's continental governing bodies. UEFA was the first to reject the proposal, warning that it would boycott FIFA competitions if the plan proceeds. CONCACAF later voiced its opposition, while the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has now joined both organisations in calling for a review of FIFA's governance and greater transparency in the decision-making process.

Despite the growing backlash, FIFA has defended the proposal, insisting that no final decision has been made and that consultations with its 211 member associations will continue ahead of a vote expected later this year. The governing body maintains that the initiative is intended to strengthen football's financial future rather than privatise the sport.