Senior Infantino adviser quits as Asian federation opposes plans
Carlos Cordeiro resigns as a senior adviser to Fifa president Gianni Infantino hours after the Asian Football Confederation became the third body to reject plans to sell competition stakes to private investors.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Carlos Cordeiro resigns after nearly five years as a senior Fifa adviser.
- The AFC becomes the third confederation to oppose Fifa's private investment plans.
- Infantino's proposal requires a straight majority of 106 votes out of 211 members.
- Uefa and Concacaf also reject the plan, creating 136 potential opposing votes.
A high-ranking adviser to Gianni Infantino stepped down from his post just hours after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) emerged as the third regional governing body to formally oppose the Fifa president's controversial strategy to sell equity stakes in major football competitions to external private investors.
The AFC released a definitive statement asserting that any proposal risking the disruption of unity and the universal character of the tournament must be thoroughly reconsidered. This major stance from Asia indicates that Infantino's commercial restructuring plans are now highly unlikely to secure approval from Fifa member associations should the initiative proceed to a formal vote.
Infantino previously noted that the proposals would require a straight majority to pass, meaning 106 out of 211 member nations must vote in favor. However, with Uefa holding 55 votes, Concacaf controlling 35, and the AFC commanding 46, a unified stance by these confederations against their governing body's proposal would instantly accumulate 136 opposing nations.
"Fifa's responsibility is not to maximise commercial returns at any cost. It is to protect and strengthen football for future generations. When those principles come into conflict, football must come first."
Carlos Cordeiro
Cordeiro, a former Goldman Sachs investment banker and former president of US Soccer who represented world football's governing body on the White House taskforce for the 2026 World Cup, served as senior adviser on global strategy and governance starting in September 2021. Having spent four years and 11 months in his role, he became the very first senior figure at Fifa to resign over the proposed changes, admitting he had no personal involvement while criticizing the rushed 50-day decision window.
Fifa's overarching ambition involves establishing a commercial subsidiary named Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) to manage marquee events like the World Cup, allowing external investors to acquire minority non-controlling stakes. A 25-page document prepared by investment bank JP Morgan outlines potential increased payouts reaching 24 million euros per member association during the 2035-2039 cycle. However, the complete omission of the women's game and the prospect of privatizing tournament stakes have sparked widespread anxiety among member associations regarding commercialization over sporting integrity.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The resignation follows a dramatic week where Uefa voted to boycott Fifa World Cups if the overarching plan proceeded, followed swiftly by an official rejection statement from Concacaf. Fifa responded early Friday with a counter-statement vowing to press forward with the initiative while maintaining that nobody is selling football, and blamed the consultation disruption on incorrect media reports. Tensions remain exceptionally high, with Uefa previously accusing Fifa of exploiting football for personal and associate enrichment.
Meanwhile, South America's Conmebol has yet to issue a public statement, while African (CAF) and Oceanian (OFC) governing bodies plan to discuss the initiative in August. Conversely, figures like Rogers Byamukama of the Ugandan Football Federation highlighted that nations heavily reliant on basic infrastructure funding should explore any avenue capable of delivering additional financial resources.
Source: BBC Sport
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