▲ FIFA President Gianni Infantino
Regarding the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) pushing to establish a World Cup tournament operating company and sell a portion of its stake to the private sector, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham pointed out that Gianni Infantino is unsuited to lead FIFA.
Prime Minister Burnham strongly and repeatedly criticized FIFA's proposed plan as an "absurd proposal" on the 31st (local time).
Burnham went on to say, "The very fact that such an idea could be put forward shows, in my view, that he is an unsuitable person to lead that organization."
The Financial Times (FT) pointed out that Burnham is the first leader of a major country to raise questions about Infantino's qualifications over this situation.
The UK, known as the birthplace of football, has actively criticized FIFA's latest plan.
Immediately after FIFA's plan was reported, Prime Minister Burnham wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "Football does not belong to investors; it belongs to the people who fill the stands and stand on the touchline."
Furthermore, after the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) stated on the 30th that it would boycott the World Cup and all other FIFA-organized tournaments if the plan is forced through, UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy immediately released a statement saying, "It is the right decision and I strongly support it."
Meanwhile, U.S. sports administrator Carlos Cordeiro announced that he is resigning from his role as a senior advisor to President Infantino in protest, calling the plan a "bad deal for member associations and for football."
Infantino appointed Cordeiro, a former Goldman Sachs financier, as an advisor in 2021 to help draft FIFA's future plans.
In a statement, Cordeiro said, "After working in finance for 35 years, football has been at the center of my life, and I know the consequences of giving up the value of this asset and a part of it," adding, "This proposal must be rejected."
He also criticized the plan, saying, "It is mortgaging the future of football without any justification."
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