FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing a growing wave of opposition to his controversial plans, with a senior adviser resigning, a third confederation speaking out, and his own administration accused of being misled about the project.
Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino’s senior adviser on global strategy and governance, stepped down, describing the proposal as “a bad deal for football” that would “mortgage football’s future”. The resignation came on the same day the Asian Football Confederation said it “stands in solidarity” with counterparts in Europe and North, Central America and the Caribbean, warning the plans could not “realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward”. The AFC also cautioned that any proposal risking the “unity and universal character” of the World Cup “must be reconsidered”.
In a statement released to the Associated Press, FIFA’s Kevin Lamour described the plans as “the project of one person” and said football’s political leaders must now “ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions”. He also claimed FIFA’s own administration had been “deceived” about the project. The statement did not mention Infantino by name. Lamour acknowledged a duty of loyalty to his employer but said certain values and support for colleagues came first. “If that means I lose my job, then so be it,” he said. “I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham also weighed in, calling Infantino “the wrong man” to lead FIFA. US President Donald Trump, addressing the proposals publicly for the first time, said he had not spoken to Infantino about the plans.
BBC Sport has approached FIFA for comment. Lamour’s statement captured what many inside the organisation appear to be feeling: “A president must bring people together, unite them, and inspire them. Today, we are experiencing the opposite.”
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
