A top adviser to Gianni Infantino resigned hours after a third confederation opposed the Fifa president’s plan to sell stakes in competitions to private investors.
Carlos Cordeiro stated that Infantino’s proposal was “a bad deal for football” and would “mortgage football’s future”.
Cordeiro’s resignation came after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) published a statement saying it “stands in solidarity” with its counterparts in Europe and North, Central America and the Caribbean.
The AFC added Infantino’s plan could not “realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward”.
“The Fifa World Cup is the pinnacle of global football and derives its strength from the participation of all Confederations and the world’s leading football nations,” it said.
“Any proposal that risks undermining the unity and universal character of the competition must be reconsidered.”
The AFC’s statement means Infantino’s plans are unlikely to be approved by Fifa members if put to a vote.
Infantino had indicated the proposals would need a straight majority to go through – meaning 106 of its 211 members needed to vote in favour for the proposal.
Uefa – the body that governs European football – has 55 votes. Concacaf, which oversees football in North, Central America and the Caribbean, has 35 and Asia has 46.
Should all member associations back the stance of their governing body, that would mean 136 nations are against Infantino’s plan.
In its statement, the AFC accused Fifa of once again setting the “direction of travel” for a “significant initiative” before consulting stakeholders.
It said Fifa’s failure to consult its member associations on the proposals had “exposed fundamental weaknesses in Fifa’s consultation and decision-making processes that must now be addressed”.
The AFC also criticised Fifa for leaving “confederations, member associations and even Fifa’s own governing bodies, including the Fifa Council, feeling sidelined.”
It added: “The Fifa World Cup, and the game itself, belong to the entire global football family.
“Their future must always be shaped collectively, through institutions that reflect the voices of all Confederations and member associations.
“The AFC calls upon Fifa to undertake an urgent review of its governance and decision-making framework to ensure that proposals of global significance are developed through proper consultation, meaningful engagement and appropriate oversight by Fifa’s statutory bodies.”
Cordeiro had been a Fifa senior adviser for four years and 11 months.
He represented the world governing body on the White House taskforce for the 2026 World Cup and was a former investment banker with Goldman Sachs.
Appointed as the senior adviser on global strategy and governance in September 2021, he is the first senior figure at Fifa to resign over the plans.
In a lengthy statement, Cordeiro said he “unequivocally” opposed the plans and said he “did not accept the proposition” Fifa needed outside investors to “unlock greater value”.
“The proposal has become a defining question for Fifa’s future,” he wrote.
“Fifa’s responsibility is not to maximise commercial returns at any cost. It is to protect and strengthen football for future generations.
“When those principles come into conflict, football must come first.”
Cordeiro said he had no involvement in this proposal.
“Most troubling of all is the absence of answers to fundamental questions,” he added. “Why this deal? Why now? What oversight exists? Who benefits?” he wrote.
“These questions remain largely unanswered, and yet member associations are being asked to make a decision of enormous consequence in barely 50 days or risk being left behind.
“That is not a responsible way to determine the future of the world’s game.”
On Thursday, Uefa voted to boycott World Cups if the Fifa plan proceeded.
Hours later, Concacaf, which hosted this year’s World Cup, released a statement also rejecting the proposals made by Infantino.
Fifa released a statement early on Friday vowing to continue with the plan – but added “nobody is selling football”.
The governing body of world football claimed the consultation process had been “disrupted by incorrect media reports”.
It claimed that would “not come at the cost of either the spirit or the governance of Fifa or football itself”.
Uefa has accused Fifa of using football “to enrich themselves and their friends”, while Concacaf and AFC have both expressed concerns about consultation over the plans.
“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product,” Uefa’s statement on Thursday read.
“It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent.
“No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.
The governing body overseeing football in South America, Conmebol, is yet to publicly comment on the proposals. The governing bodies in Africa (CAF) and Oceania (OFC) have said they will discuss Fifa’s plan in August.
