Carlos Cordeiro resigns as Infantino adviser over proposed FIFA commercial venture

Carlos Cordeiro has resigned as an adviser to FIFA president Gianni Infantino after objecting to plans to create an independent commercial company to manage FIFA’s commercial rights and major events with private-sector investors.

Cordeiro announced his departure in a statement on Friday, saying he strongly opposed the proposal and rejected the argument that FIFA needed outside investors to generate greater value from its operations.

He had served as a senior adviser to FIFA for five years.

In comments reported by the BBC, Cordeiro said: “I strongly oppose the plans and do not accept the proposal that FIFA needs external investors to unlock greater value.”

He added: “This proposal has become a defining question for FIFA’s future. FIFA’s responsibility is not to maximise commercial returns at any cost. It is to protect and advance football for future generations.”

Cordeiro continued: “When these principles come into conflict, football must come first.”

The former adviser said he had played no role in developing the proposal. He also questioned the lack of clarity surrounding the initiative and the timetable being presented to FIFA’s member associations.

“The most concerning aspect is the absence of answers to fundamental questions. Why this deal? Why now? What oversight is in place? Who benefits?” he said.

“Those questions remain largely unanswered, yet member associations are being asked to make a decision with far-reaching consequences within just 50 days, or risk being left behind.”

He concluded: “This is not a responsible way to determine the future of the global game.”

The proposal has already generated opposition among several of FIFA’s continental confederations.

UEFA has previously announced that its national teams would boycott FIFA competitions “as long as these proposals remain in place”.

Concacaf has formally rejected the FIFA plan, while the Asian Football Confederation has also announced its opposition.

The Confederation of African Football, known as CAF, has instead announced a meeting of its executive committee to assess the proposed initiative, called FIFA Forward Enterprise.

FIFA has put forward the idea of an independent commercial company that would oversee its commercial rights and major events while bringing in investment from private-sector partners. Cordeiro’s resignation places further focus on the governance, oversight and purpose of the plan as FIFA’s member associations consider its future.

The former senior adviser’s statement also raised concerns about the speed of the decision-making process, arguing that associations were being asked to approve a major change despite what he described as unanswered questions about its rationale and beneficiaries.

His departure comes as the proposal faces resistance from UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation, while CAF prepares to review the initiative through its executive committee.