Resignation of adviser adds to Infantino’s troubles over World Cup rights
Gianni Infantino’s grip on world football has come under fresh pressure after one of his closest advisers resigned in protest over FIFA’s controversial plans to sell a stake in the commercial rights to the World Cup, reports BritPanorama.
Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to the FIFA president and former president of US Soccer, announced his immediate resignation as opposition to the proposal continues to gather momentum across the sport. His departure represents another significant setback for Infantino, who is already facing fierce resistance from UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation over plans to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) and sell a 20 per cent stake to private investors.
The proposal has sparked threats of a boycott of FIFA competitions, with football’s governing body facing one of the biggest governance crises in its modern history. Cordeiro, who also previously served as vice-chairman of Goldman Sachs, expressed his concerns, stating he could no longer support FIFA’s direction and insisted the proposed deal would damage the long-term future of football.
“As a senior adviser to the FIFA president, a former banker, and a lifelong football fan, I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup,” he told Sky News. “It is a bad deal for FIFA’s Member Associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game.”
The resignation comes as FIFA attempts to convince its 211 member associations to back the creation of FFE, a new commercial company that would control the rights to the governing body’s major tournaments. The organisation intends to sell a 20 per cent share of the business to private investors, with the venture reportedly valued at around $20 billion.
Cordeiro questioned both the financial logic behind the proposal and the speed with which national associations are being asked to make a decision. “Football has been central to my life, and after more than 35 years in banking, I understand both the value of this asset and the consequences of giving part of it away,” he added.
He argued FIFA already possesses more than enough financial resources to invest in the global game without giving away a permanent share of its most valuable commercial asset. “Against that backdrop, selling a permanent stake in football’s most valuable asset to raise $4.2 billion makes little sense. It is mortgaging football’s future without any compelling justification.”
Cordeiro also criticised what he described as a lack of transparency surrounding the proposal. “Most troubling of all is the absence of answers to fundamental questions,” he said. “Why this deal? Why now? What oversight exists? Who benefits? Was there a competitive process? What governance will be in place? What will investors ultimately gain, and at what cost to football?”
Confirming his departure, Cordeiro concluded, “This proposal has become a defining question for FIFA’s future. My role as Senior Advisor to the FIFA President is no longer tenable.” He emphasised that FIFA’s responsibility is not to maximise commercial returns at any cost but to protect and strengthen football for future generations. What happens next remains to be seen, as the fallout continues to unfold in the sport.
In the face of such challenges, the looming question is whether FIFA can reconcile its ambitions with the fundamental principles of the game, or whether this moment will define a shift in its approach to governance and accountability.
