GENEVA (AP) 鈥� Pressure on FIFA President Gianni Infantino and his to private equity grew Friday as his and Asia’s soccer body joined Europe and North America in opposing it.
An expanding crisis for soccer’s governing body reached into Infantino’s longtime inner circle when his pick to represent FIFA on the White House Task Force for the World Cup walked away calling the Joshua Kushner-backed $20 billion commercial subsidiary plan 鈥渁 bad deal for football.鈥�
Carlos Cordeiro is a former Goldman Sachs banker and officially Infantino’s Senior Adviser yet revealed he was not involved in the secretive investment plan that has rocked the sport since media reports revealed it Tuesday.
鈥淚 cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup,鈥� Cordeiro said in a statement formally resigning, just hours after FIFA insisted in a statement: 鈥淣obody is selling football.鈥�
Cordeiro’s exit 鈥� and call for other senior staff to speak out 鈥� intensified scrutiny on Infantino one day after European soccer body all FIFA games and events until the plan is dropped. North America’s CONCACAF also rejected Infantino鈥檚 offer of one-off $20 million payments to each member federation by a mid-September deadline.
Cordeiro often joined Infantino on working visits to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in recent years, and took part in meetings of the administration’s led by Andrew Guiliani.
鈥淟et me be clear. I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally,鈥� said Cordeiro, the former U.S. Soccer Federation president.
Asia joins Europe and North America
On another seismic day in soccer politics, Asia鈥檚 soccer body that has been a key ally in Infantino’s 11-year presidency opposed the investor plan and said FIFA must urgently review its management style
The Asian Football Confederation said it 鈥渟tands in solidarity鈥� with UEFA and CONCACAF, the first two continental bodies to oppose Infantino whose combined 90 FIFA member countries near a majority of the 211 global total.
鈥淔ootball should never have been placed in such a position,鈥� , which counts 46 of FIFA’s 211 members
Infantino has proposed spinning off FIFA’s commercial businesses 鈥� including World Cups and Club World Cups for men and women 鈥� into a $20 billion subsidiary with 20% owned by private investors.
The 鈥渁nchor investor,鈥� described by FIFA, is a New York-based investment firm created by Joshua Kushner, the younger brother of Trump鈥檚 son-in-law Jared Kushner.
鈥�(T)he proposed (FIFA Forward Enterprise) cannot realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward鈥� and must be reconsidered, the AFC said.
The statement did not name Infantino yet criticized FIFA for problems beyond the content of the private equity plan plus failing to consult about the secretive proposal.
鈥淩ather, it has exposed fundamental weaknesses in FIFA鈥檚 consultation and decision-making processes that must now be addressed,鈥� said the AFC, whose longtime president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa to Infantino in 2016.
鈥淎ccordingly, the AFC calls upon FIFA to undertake an urgent review of its governance and decision-making framework,鈥� said the organization based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Infantino’s job at risk?
Infantino had seemed 鈥� 11 days ago after the World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey 鈥� to have a clear path to being reelected unopposed for a fourth and final term in office through 2031.
FIFA had briefed during the tournament that Infantino had letters of support from about 200 members, despite a against Belgium even though he received a red card in his previous game. Trump acknowledged asking Infantino to review Balogun’s mandatory one-game ban.
FIFA has set a Nov. 18 deadline for potential candidates to declare in a presidential vote of the 211 members scheduled next March in Rabat, Morocco.
FIFA blames the media
The Asian statement came hours after FIFA blamed the media and doubled down on pursuing the project which now seems to have a majority of the 211 in opposition.
鈥淥ur planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports,鈥� . 鈥淲e will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each (member) has the ability to express its vote based on facts.鈥�
The next FIFA event that would be targeted by the threatened European boycott is within weeks 鈥� the Women鈥檚 Under-20 World Cup hosted by Poland from Sept. 5. The four British federations comprise FIFA鈥檚 only bidder to host the 2035 Women鈥檚 World Cup. That decision is due Nov. 23.
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