In a significant development within FIFA, two senior officials have publicly criticized President Gianni Infantino's controversial plan to sell a stake in the World Cup. One of these officials, Carlos Cordeiro, has resigned from his position as a presidential adviser, while the other, FIFA's chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, has voiced concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the proposal.

Cordeiro Resigns in Protest

Cordeiro, who has previously represented FIFA on the White House Task Force for the World Cup, announced his resignation in a statement expressing his strong opposition to the private equity plan. “I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup,” he stated, urging other senior staff to also voice their concerns. Cordeiro, a former Goldman Sachs banker and president of the U.S. Soccer Federation, described the proposed $20 billion commercial subsidiary as “a bad deal for football.” He emphasized the importance of the sport in his life and the potential consequences of relinquishing part of such a valuable asset.

Concerns Over Transparency

Lamour echoed Cordeiro's sentiments, stating that FIFA staff had been “deceived” by Infantino's lack of openness regarding the private investor scheme. He criticized the project as being driven by one individual, asserting that it should not move forward. While Lamour did not resign from his position, he expressed his commitment to his colleagues and indicated he would accept any repercussions, including the potential loss of his job, for standing up for what he believes is right.

Infantino's proposal involves creating a $20 billion subsidiary that would include FIFA’s commercial operations, with 20% of it owned by private investors. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how these resignations and criticisms will impact FIFA's plans moving forward.