British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has intensified criticism of FIFA president Gianni Infantino as resistance grows against the world governing body’s proposal to sell stakes in its major football competitions to private investors.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Burnham described the proposal as “outrageous” and questioned Infantino’s leadership.
“The idea that it could even be brought forward shows that, in my view, he is the wrong man to lead the organisation,” Burnham said.
His comments came hours after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) joined UEFA and Concacaf in rejecting the controversial proposal.
In a strongly worded statement, the AFC said it stood “in solidarity” with the other confederations. Further arguing that the plan lacked the broad support needed to move forward.
The Asian governing body warned that the FIFA World Cup derives its value from the participation of all football nations. Hence it should not be treated as a commercial asset.
“Any proposal that risks undermining the unity and universal character of the competition must be reconsidered,” the AFC said.
The latest opposition significantly weakens Infantino’s chances of securing approval from FIFA’s 211 member associations.
Under FIFA’s voting rules, the proposal would require a simple majority of 106 votes to pass. However, UEFA’s 55 members, Concacaf’s 35 members and the AFC’s 46 members account for a combined 136 votes. If those associations follow their confederations’ recommendations, the proposal would fail comfortably.
Senior Adviser Resigns
The backlash also prompted the resignation of Carlos Cordeiro, one of Infantino’s most senior advisers.
Cordeiro, who served as FIFA’s senior adviser on global strategy and governance for nearly five years, announced his resignation on Friday, describing the proposal as “a bad deal for football.”
The former Goldman Sachs investment banker said FIFA’s responsibility was to protect the sport rather than maximise commercial returns.
“FIFA’s responsibility is not to maximise commercial returns at any cost. It is to protect and strengthen football for future generations,” Cordeiro said.
“When those principles come into conflict, football must come first.”
Cordeiro stressed that he had no involvement in developing the proposal and criticised FIFA for failing to provide clear answers.
He questioned why the deal was necessary, why it was being pursued now, who would benefit from it and what oversight mechanisms would exist.
He also criticised FIFA for giving member associations less than two months to decide on an issue of enormous importance.
“That is not a responsible way to determine the future of the world’s game,” he added.
The proposal has sparked widespread concern across global football, with critics warning that allowing private investors to own stakes in FIFA competitions could fundamentally alter the governance and long-term future of the sport.
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