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FIFA Senior Advisor Resigns Over Infantino's Commercial Rights Sale Plans
🇬🇷 Greece /Sports

FIFA Senior Advisor Resigns Over Infantino's Commercial Rights Sale Plans

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • FIFA senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro resigned, citing opposition to President Gianni Infantino's plans to sell minority stakes in commercial rights, potentially including the World Cup.
  • The move follows widespread opposition from 55 European football federations, who have threatened to boycott FIFA events if the plan proceeds.
  • Cordeiro, a former US Soccer Federation president, stated the proposal is detrimental to FIFA member associations, football itself, and the sport's future.

A significant shake-up is underway at FIFA as a close associate of President Gianni Infantino has resigned over controversial plans to sell minority stakes in the organization's commercial rights. Carlos Cordeiro, a senior advisor to Infantino and former president of the U.S. Soccer Federation, announced his departure, expressing strong disapproval of the proposed venture.

Cordeiro's resignation comes amid mounting opposition from European football federations. The 55 national associations have collectively signaled their intent to boycott FIFA events if the plan to create a new commercial entity for private investment moves forward. This internal dissent highlights a deep rift within the global football governing body.

As a Senior Advisor to the FIFA President, a former banker, and a lifelong football… I cannot stand idly by at a time when FIFA is considering selling a stake in the World Cup.

— Carlos CordeiroExplaining his decision to resign from his advisory role.

In a statement, Cordeiro declared, "As a Senior Advisor to the FIFA President, a former banker, and a lifelong football... I cannot stand idly by at a time when FIFA is considering selling a stake in the World Cup." He explicitly stated his non-involvement in the proposal and rejected it unequivocally, calling it "a bad deal for FIFA's member associations, bad for football itself, and bad for the long-term future of the sport."

The proposed plan, reportedly involving the sale of minority shares in commercial rights, including potentially the World Cup, has generated significant backlash both inside and outside FIFA. Reports suggest Infantino is losing support even within his inner circle, as evidenced by Cordeiro's public stance against the initiative.

I want to be clear: I was not involved in this proposal and I reject it categorically. It is a bad deal for FIFA's member associations, bad for football itself, and bad for the long-term future of the sport.

— Carlos CordeiroStating his strong opposition to the commercial rights sale plan.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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