FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces growing opposition after his senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, resigns in protest of proposed private investment in future World Cup tournaments. Multiple outlets report that Cordeiro leaves his role after arguing that the plan would undermine football’s interests and “mortgage” its future, with some accounts describing it as a “bad deal for football.”
The resignation follows condemnation from regional football federations and confederations. Sources agree that UEFA is among those opposing the proposal, alongside CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), with reports of potential collective resistance including a possible boycott linked to a forthcoming member vote.
FIFA’s plan centres on bringing in private capital and involves payments to countries that support the project, with one figure cited as $40 million offered to each backing country. CBS also notes FIFA faces pressure to abandon what it describes as a $20 billion privatization approach, while FIFA is said to be publicly defending its proposal and criticizing media coverage.
Cordeiro’s departure is presented across the reports as a significant sign of internal dissent at FIFA just as member associations prepare to decide on the plan.
