Prime Minister Andy Burnham has publicly branded Gianni Infantino as "the wrong man" to head FIFA, a statement that has intensified scrutiny of the football federation's president following the resignation of a senior adviser over a contentious commercial scheme. Burnham's condemnation came after FIFA unveiled a proposal to sell minority stakes in its flagship competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. When the plan was first disclosed, Burnham immediately denounced the idea, and on Friday he reiterated his disapproval, saying: "The fact that such a proposal could even be floated demonstrates, in my opinion, that he is the wrong person to lead this organisation." Burnham's criticism was echoed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which joined UEFA and CONCACAF in publicly opposing the initiative. The AFC called for an "urgent review of FIFA's governance" and warned that the current direction threatens the sport's democratic principles.
The controversy deepened when Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino and a former banker with lifelong passion for football, stepped down in protest. In a statement to Sky News, Cordeiro described the privatisation plan as "a bad deal for football" and "detrimental to the long‑term future of the game." He emphasized that he had not been involved in drafting the proposal and that he opposed it unequivocally, adding, "As a senior advisor to the FIFA president, I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup." Soon after, FIFA's chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, alleged that Infantino had misled staff by failing to be transparent about the project.
Speaking to the Associated Press, Lamour said the federation's employees deserved "better than contempt and intimidation" and characterised the World Cup venture as "the project of one person." He urged football leaders to intervene before the plan proceeds unchecked. FIFA attempted to quell the backlash with an early‑morning statement on Friday, insisting that "nobody is selling football" and that the organisation would continue a consultation process with its member associations. The statement highlighted the launch of a new commercial vehicle called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which is intended to give each national association the chance to benefit from commercial opportunities in its own market while preserving the integrity and governance of the sport.
FIFA stressed that the consultation had been disrupted by inaccurate media reports and promised to move forward with a fact‑based dialogue. The reaction from the global football community has been swift and unified. UEFA, representing 55 national associations, declared that none of its teams would take part in any FIFA tournament until the plan is withdrawn. CONCACAF, which oversees 41 nations across North and Central America and the Caribbean, also rejected the proposal outright.
Both confederations warned that the commercialisation of the World Cup could lead to larger, more frequent tournaments that would further crowd domestic calendars and jeopardise the sport's traditional structure. Adding a political dimension to the dispute, United States President Donald Trump was asked at Camp David whether he had discussed the privatisation scheme with Infantino.
Trump responded, "No, I never spoke to him," distancing himself from the controversy. The proposed lead investor, Thrive Eternal, a firm founded by Joshua Kushner—the brother of former White House adviser Jared Kushner—has so far declined to comment on the matter.
FIFA's own narrative insists that FFE is designed to allow member associations to own a meaningful share of football's commercial upside without compromising the sport's spirit or governance. The federation reiterated that "nobody is selling football" and that the proposal would never be entertained if it threatened the core values of the game. Nevertheless, the opposition remains resolute.
The AFC, which had previously been a strong supporter of Infantino, issued a statement that could be interpreted as a call for his resignation. The AFC president, Sheikh Salman, who finished second to Infantino in the 2016 FIFA presidential election, urged a comprehensive reform of FIFA's decision‑making framework.
He argued that genuine democracy goes beyond a simple vote; it requires transparent governance, timely consultation, informed deliberation, and authentic participation throughout the process. Sky Sports analyst Kaveh Solhekol described the situation as a "catastrophic error of judgment" for Infantino, suggesting that the president now faces a realistic prospect of losing his job. Solhekol noted that the question is whether Infantino will be ousted by internal forces within FIFA or by external pressure from member associations.
He observed that many FIFA staff members share the outrage of ordinary fans over the president's handling of the organisation, particularly in light of other controversial decisions, such as the eligibility ruling that allowed Folarin Balogun to represent the United States despite a suspension. If Infantino refuses to step down, the FIFA Council could be forced to hold an emergency Congress, where a vote of no confidence might be triggered with the support of at least 20 percent of the 211 member associations. Even if he survives such a challenge, analysts predict that he will face serious competition in the next presidential election scheduled for next year. The broader implications of the proposed privatisation extend beyond governance.
Critics argue that selling stakes in the World Cup could create a profit‑driven incentive to expand the tournament's size, frequency, or location, potentially undermining the balance between international and domestic competitions. They fear that commercial imperatives could outweigh sporting considerations, leading to a version of football that prioritises revenue over the fan experience and competitive fairness. In summary, the combination of high‑profile resignations, unified opposition from UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC, and mounting political scrutiny has placed Gianni Infantino under unprecedented pressure. The outcome of FIFA's consultation process, the response of member associations, and any potential emergency congress will determine whether the federation remains under Infantino's leadership or embarks on a new era of governance.
The situation continues to evolve, and stakeholders across the football world are watching closely for the next developments.