FIFA president Gianni Infantino has suffered a setback after his senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned in protest over plans to sell a stake in the commercial business of the FIFA World Cup, describing the proposal as “a bad deal” for football.
Cordeiro, a former president of the United States Soccer Federation and a former banker, announced his resignation on Friday, distancing himself from the proposed transaction.
“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,” Cordeiro said.
“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.”
His resignation came hours after FIFA reaffirmed its intention to continue an “open and democratic” consultation process on the proposed sale.
The development adds to growing scrutiny over FIFA’s plans to bring external investment into the commercial operations of its flagship tournament.