UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called for FIFA president Gianni Infantino to be replaced, saying the governing body’s plan to sell a stake in a new commercial entity shows he is “the wrong man” to lead world football.
Burnham’s comments came after mounting opposition to FIFA’s proposal, including the resignation of Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro, who described the plan as “mortgaging football’s future without any compelling justification.”
Cordeiro, a former president of the US Soccer Federation and ex-Goldman Sachs banker, said he had no role in developing the proposal and opposed it “unequivocally.” He warned that the deal would be harmful to FIFA member associations, football, and the long-term future of the sport.
FIFA announced on Friday that it would continue consultations over plans to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise, a new commercial arm reportedly valued at $20 billion, and sell a 20% stake to external investors. The organization said it remained open to changes, including approval, rejection, or amendments to the proposal.
The move has faced strong resistance from football’s regional governing bodies. The Asian Football Confederation said the controversy had exposed weaknesses in FIFA’s consultation and decision-making processes, calling for institutional reforms.
UEFA, European football’s governing body, accused FIFA of handling the process irresponsibly and criticized what it described as “governance by intimidation.”
Also Read: UEFA threatens World Cup boycott over Infantino’s investment plan
The organization’s 55 member associations have threatened to boycott FIFA tournaments unless the investment plan is abandoned.
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football which oversees football in North and Central America and the Caribbean, has also seen growing dissatisfaction with Infantino’s leadership, according to a person who attended an emergency meeting of the confederation.
Infantino, who has overseen significant growth in FIFA’s revenues since taking office nearly a decade ago, is expected to seek re-election next year. However, the backlash over the investment proposal has increased scrutiny of his leadership.
FIFA has rejected claims that it is selling control of football, saying that no single organization represents the views of all 211 member associations. It said the consultation process would allow each association to make decisions based on the available information.
The proposed deal has also raised concerns over the timeline for approval and links between support for the plan and financial incentives. Member associations have been given until September 19 to vote on the proposal and could receive an immediate $20 million payment, followed by another $20 million in funding over a period of four years if they approve it.
The investment fund Thrive Capital, led by Joshua Kushner, has reportedly been identified as the potential lead investor.
Financial Times
