A senior advisor to FIFA President Gianni Infantino has resigned in protest against plans to sell a stake in the World Cup, which has sparked significant backlash from various football confederations. The proposal involves establishing a subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), with a potential 20 percent stake available to external investors, valued at $20 billion.

Resignation and Opposition

Carlos Cordeiro, who was appointed by Infantino in 2021 to help shape the future of FIFA, stepped down immediately, criticizing the plan as "a bad deal for football." He expressed concerns that FIFA was "mortgaging football's future without any compelling justification." Cordeiro emphasized that he had no role in the proposal and opposed it "unequivocally."

Widespread Criticism

The backlash has been led by UEFA, which accused FIFA of compromising the sport's integrity. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham also condemned the proposal, calling it "outrageous" and suggesting that Infantino is unfit to lead the organization. Despite the growing dissent, FIFA stated that it would continue its consultation process with its 211 national football associations, aiming to allow each member association to express its vote based on facts.

As the situation develops, the future of the World Cup and FIFA's plans remain uncertain amid this significant opposition from key stakeholders in the football community.