🚨 Infantino's chief adviser resigns in protest at the FFE! | OneFootball

Infantino loses another ally.

Just hours after expressing its desire to "continue the process" FFE, FIFA and Gianni Infantino have just lost another ally in dramatic fashion.

In a statement published by Sky Sports and The Times, Carlos Cordeiro announced his resignation from his position as Gianni Infantino’s senior adviser in protest against the project being led by the FIFA president.

"Football has always held a central place in my life, and after more than 35 years spent in banking, I understand both the value of this asset and the consequences of giving up part of it. That is why this proposal must be rejected," his statement reads.

"FIFA already has extraordinary financial resources. The organization holds reserves worth several billion dollars and has no debt. The FIFA president himself highlighted the $15 billion in revenue generated between 2022 and 2026. If member associations believe additional investment is needed to develop the sport, FIFA already has the financial capacity to provide that support from its existing resources. In this context, selling a permanent stake in football’s most valuable asset in order to raise $4.2 billion makes very little sense. It amounts to mortgaging the future of football without any convincing justification," he continued.

The White House’s senior adviser for the 2026 World Cup Task Force also raised several questions. "Most worrying is the lack of answers to fundamental questions. Why this deal? Why now? What oversight is planned? Who benefits? Was there a bidding process? What governance will be put in place? What will the investors do?"

Carlos Cordeiro concluded by urging other senior FIFA members to follow his example. "This proposal has become a defining issue for FIFA’s future. After careful reflection, I can no longer continue serving as a senior adviser to the FIFA president. I have therefore resigned with immediate effect.

FIFA’s responsibility is not to maximize 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.

It has been an unforgettable privilege for me to serve FIFA for more than five years and to work alongside dedicated and principled people who are deeply committed to this sport. I hope they too will speak out, because decisions of this magnitude must be made in the interests of football, not in the interests of those who profit from it," he concluded.

As a reminder, this decision comes just minutes after the AFC announced its support for UEFA and CONCACAF in rejecting the project led by FIFA.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

📸 Chip Somodevilla - 2018 Getty Images