Gianni Infantino's authority at FIFA has taken a fresh blow after senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned over plans to sell a stake in the World Cup, with a majority of member associations now opposing the scheme.
Gianni Infantino’s position as FIFA president is under growing pressure after Carlos Cordeiro, one of his senior advisers, resigned with immediate effect in protest at proposals to sell a stake in the World Cup, according to the Guardian.
Cordeiro, the former head of US Soccer, criticised the plans as “a bad deal for football”. He pointed out that the global governing body already sits on huge amounts of debt-free reserves, questioning the rationale for selling off a stake in its flagship tournament.
The resignation is described by the Guardian as the latest embarrassment for Infantino, whose authority has been dealt a series of blows in recent days.
On Thursday, European football associations threatened to boycott future FIFA tournaments, adding to the mounting opposition to the leadership’s direction.
The Guardian reports that 143 of FIFA’s 211 member associations now stand against the sell-off scheme, indicating that a clear majority of the organisation’s membership opposes the proposals.
The combination of internal resignations, a threatened boycott by European FAs and majority opposition among members leaves Infantino increasingly embattled as the debate over the World Cup’s future ownership continues.
Why it matters
The World Cup is football's most valuable and widely watched event, so proposals to sell off a stake in it raise questions about who controls the sport and how its revenues are used. Growing opposition within FIFA and threats of a boycott suggest a significant governance dispute that could reshape the game's leadership.