Senior Infantino advisor resigns over FIFA’s ‘bad deal for football’

FIFA president Gianni Infantino suffered a serious blow on Friday as his senior advisor quit over the plan to sell a stake in the business operations of the World Cup, calling it a “bad deal” for the sport.

“As a senior advisor to the FIFA president, a former banker, and a lifelong football fan, I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup,” wrote Cordeiro, a former head of the US Soccer Federation.

“Let me be clear: I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally.

“It is a bad deal for FIFA’s member associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game.”

His resignation and the AFC statement came hours after FIFA vowed to press ahead with an “open and democratic” consultation on the plan.