Andy Burnham has criticized Gianni Infantino as an unsuitable leader for FIFA amid controversy over plans to sell a share in the World Cup. The Prime Minister has strongly opposed the idea, calling it outrageous, as FIFA pushes forward with a proposal to establish a new $20 billion company named FIFA Forward Enterprise to oversee its competitions.
Infantino faced further setback when one of his top advisers, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned immediately in protest against the World Cup stake sale plans. Burnham expressed his growing opposition to the proposal, stating that it should never have been considered and labeling Infantino as unfit to lead the organization.
Burnham’s remarks mark the first time a major country leader has questioned Infantino’s position. European football associations have threatened to boycott future FIFA tournaments, with US Soccer chief Cordeiro denouncing the proposal as detrimental to football and unnecessary given FIFA’s substantial debt-free reserves.
Cordeiro, who served as a senior adviser to Infantino since 2021, emphasized that FIFA already has the financial means to support its initiatives without selling off a stake in the World Cup. He cautioned against jeopardizing football’s future without valid justification through permanent ownership transfer.
Recently, Uefa declared that the World Cup is not for sale, with 55 nations considering boycotting FIFA events unless the controversial proposal is fully abandoned. The Football Association supported this stance, asserting that the FIFA World Cup is integral to football’s heritage and rejecting private ownership of the tournament.
Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf have also expressed opposition to the plans, urging FIFA to review its decision-making process and involve statutory bodies in crucial global matters. Despite facing widespread criticism, FIFA remains committed to its consultation process to allow member associations to vote based on factual information.
