Carlos Cordeiro, senior adviser to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, has abruptly resigned amid fierce global backlash against controversial World Cup commercialisation plans. The former U.S. Soccer Federation vice president and ex-banker publicly condemned the proposal to introduce private investment into the World Cup, branding it “a bad deal for football” and distancing himself from the initiative.
Cordeiro’s departure follows widespread opposition from major football confederations UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF, all of which are threatening to boycott future tournaments if FIFA proceeds. In a stark statement, Cordeiro insisted, “Let me be clear: I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally. 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 contentious plan involves selling a 20 percent stake of FIFA’s World Cup business to private investors, with the venture reportedly valued at around $20 billion. Despite mounting criticism, FIFA reaffirmed its commitment to the scheme, stating early Friday that “nobody is selling football,” a claim that ignited further outrage across social media platforms worldwide.
Infantino, who has served as FIFA President for over a decade and is currently the frontrunner for re-election next March—running unopposed—faces intensified scrutiny and ridicule as his administration pushes forward with this financial overhaul. The proposal requires a simple majority approval from FIFA’s 211 member associations, meaning at least 106 must vote in favour for the plan to be enacted.
This high-stakes move threatens to fracture relationships within world football’s governing bodies and shake the very foundations of the sport. Cordeiro’s resignation underscores internal dissent at FIFA’s highest levels and highlights the severe reputational risks tied to the proposed World Cup privatisation.
Discover more from Apito Final
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
