FIFA and UEFA in Disagreements .

Interesting to see David Beckham getting involved. I expect he made a lot of money from the WC. He is saying the world needs to embrace commercial income and the developments it can bring.
 
Asian Football Confederation:

“The AFC stands in solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF in expressing serious concerns over FIFA’s proposal to introduce private investment into FIFA's flagship competitions and the decision-making process around FFE.

“The fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of a FIFA World Cup boycott has entered public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of our game. Football should never have been placed in such a position.”

Hours before the AFC spoke out, FIFA doubled down on its plans and blamed ‘incorrect media reports’ for ‘disrupting’ the consultation process.

FIFA hits back as UEFA plan to boycott​

In a statement released on Friday morning, FIFA said: "We have heard the feedback provided by the respective confederations in relation to the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) and would like to address the issues that have surfaced since the initial media reporting on Tuesday.

"We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation.

⁠"Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports. We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA has the ability to express its vote based on facts.

"FFE has been proposed solely to ensure that all FIFA Member Associations (MAs) have the opportunity to take meaningful ownership of the commercial opportunity of football in their respective countries, and that this does not come at the cost of either the spirit or the governance of FIFA or football itself.

"Nobody is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever entertain.

"Everyone has the right to express their opposition and to seek further clarification, but no single entity can claim to represent all 211 MAs around the world.

"Each MA should be allowed to review the proposal and have a say in shaping their own future. These are the democratic principles of FIFA."
 
stupops said:
I saw something about that.
I think woth the three in opposition they can trigger a vote.
I saw that the fella who owns or has ties to PSG is the frontrunner.
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Well he's up for re-election come March - but they have to find a credible alternative before anything can be done.

The problem is he has all the small Member Associations pretty much in his back pocket; it will have to be someone who will commit to giving them more money than they do now.
 
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Spursex said:
You would have thought so, but getting him out won't be easy.
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Perhaps not easy but as he can only serve until up to 2031, I think many may see the vast scrutiny & pressure on him as the ideal environment to drive him out.
He’s not read the room whatsoever & has parroted Trumps typical narrative of “fake news” etc, without the vast idiotic support Trump has behind him.

I do think the writings on the wall for Infantino now, as even if it was only UEFA boycotting future FIFA events, without those countries & respective players, the events simply would be meaningless & not attract the commercial revenue Infantino wants.

I’m really heartened that all of UEFA’s members have united & agreed to such a strong & robust position. That’s the truly beautiful outcome.
 
Spursex said:
Well he's up for re-election come March - but they have to find a credible alternative before anything can be done.

The problem is he has all the small Member Associations pretty much in his back pocket; it will have tio be someone who will commit to giving them more money than they do now.
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Wasn’t that a similar position with Blatter? That he had so many of the smaller member associations in his pocket, that nobody could even realistically challenge him until of course his criminal activities were highlighted sufficiently.
Some would say that perhaps that’s the tactic opponents to Infantino should be deploying too! There must be some evidence of nefarious activity by Infantino somewhere! He’s never come across as the squeaky clean person that has a strong foundation built on integrity!
Although it’s anybodies guess whether a replacement would be any better!
 
SwindonSpur82 said:
Wasn’t that a similar position with Blatter? That he had so many of the smaller member associations in his pocket, that nobody could even realistically challenge him until of course his criminal activities were highlighted sufficiently.
Some would say that perhaps that’s the tactic opponents to Infantino should be deploying too! There must be some evidence of nefarious activity by Infantino somewhere! He’s never come across as the squeaky clean person that has a strong foundation built on integrity!
Although it’s anybodies guess whether a replacement would be any better!
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It's the flaw in the structure of FIFA. Personally I think each regional body should just have 1 vote each in order to bypass this type of nonsense
 
meee93 said:
It's the flaw in the structure of FIFA. Personally I think each regional body should just have 1 vote each in order to bypass this type of nonsense
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I believe that is the case for the associations, not the regional bodies as they actually don't get a vote in elections!

FIFA's voting systems vary depending on the context. For political decisions like presidential elections and World Cup hosting, each of the 211 Member Associations holds exactly one equal vote, regardless of the nation's size. For player and coach awards, the process utilizes an equally weighted four-pillar system.
 
So a world cup between African and oceanic countries....that'll be good. Hope the private equity dudes enjoy invesing in that
 
Infantino's putting on a brave face but he faces opposition the like of which we;ve never witnessed before. Without UEFA his plans are toast. The other federations are also strongly opposed to his plans and whilst falling short of actually boycotting future events, i feel that's the next logical step they'll take.

Come March there'll be elections. I suspect Infantino will be forced to step down long before that. If not the scrutiny he's under and pressure will only build momentum. UEFA have absolutely called this out for what it is. A bribe. Plain & simple. Football is not for sale.
 

Gianni Infantino’s senior adviser quits as pressure mounts on Fifa president​


Carlos Cordeiro’s resignation comes after Asian confederation joins Europe and Concacaf in clear majority of nations against World Cup sell-off plan​

Martyn Ziegler



Martyn Ziegler, Sports News Reporter of the Year
Friday July 31 2026, 10.35am, The Times




Gianni Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro has resigned in protest at the Fifa president’s attempt to sell off stakes in the World Cup.
The latest devastating blow to Infantino raises new questions over his future after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) issued a damning statement criticising the plans.

Cordeiro, an American who was heavily involved in the 2026 World Cup and is a former investment banker with Goldman Sachs, said: “As a senior adviser 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.

“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.


“Football has been central to my life, and after more than 35 years in banking, I understand both the value of this asset and the consequences of giving part of it away. That is why this proposal should be rejected.

“Fifa already has access to extraordinary financial resources. The organisation sits on billions of dollars in reserves and no debt. The Fifa president himself has highlighted the $15billion in revenue generated between 2022 and 2026. If member associations believe additional investment is needed to develop the game, Fifa already has the financial capacity to provide that support from its existing resources.
Cordeiro was heavily involved in this summer’s World CupBob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
“Against that backdrop, selling a permanent stake in football’s most valuable asset to raise $4.2billion makes little sense. It is mortgaging football’s future without any compelling justification.

“This proposal has become a defining question for Fifa’s future. After careful consideration, I can no longer continue in my role as senior adviser to the Fifa president. I have therefore resigned with immediate effect.”
He added: “Most troubling of all is the absence of answers to fundamental questions. Why this deal? Why now? What oversight exists? Who benefits? Was there a competitive process? What governance will be in place? What will investors ultimately gain, and at what cost to football?”

Who is Carlos Cordeiro?​


  • Carlos Cordeiro is a former banker turned sports executive. He spent more than two decades at Goldman Sachs, where he was a partner, before becoming president of the United States Soccer Federation in 2018.
  • After resigning from that role in 2020 amid criticism relating to his administration’s legal position on the US women’s team, he joined Fifa as a senior adviser on global strategy. He later became senior adviser to Gianni Infantino himself. Most recently, he served at president Trump’s direction as senior adviser to the White House Task Force for the World Cup.
The AFC said it stood “in solidarity with Uefa and Concacaf to protect the Fifa World Cup” after European nations said they would boycott Fifa tournaments if the plan goes ahead. The Concacaf nations in North and Central America are also opposing Infantino’s scheme.


With Europe (55 Fifa members) and Concacaf (35) committed to opposing the plans, only 16 of Asia’s 46 members would need to follow suit to have a majority of Fifa’s 211 nations against Infantino’s proposal.
“The AFC stands in solidarity with Uefa and Concacaf in expressing serious concerns over Fifa’s proposal to introduce private investment into Fifa’s flagship competitions and the decision-making process around FFE,” the AFC said in a statement.
“The fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of a Fifa World Cup boycott has entered public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of our game. Football should never have been placed in such a position.
“Against this backdrop, and in light of the clear positions expressed by Uefa and Concacaf, as well as the unprecedented divisions that have emerged across the football world, the AFC believes that the proposed FFE cannot realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward.
“The Fifa World Cup is the pinnacle of global football and derives its strength from the participation of all confederations and the world’s leading football nations. Any proposal that risks undermining the unity and universal character of the competition must be reconsidered.”
The AFC said the proposal had “exposed fundamental weaknesses” in Fifa’s consultation and decision-making processes.
It added: “While the AFC notes Fifa’s latest clarification on the proposal, the central concerns surrounding governance, institutional process and meaningful consultation remain unanswered. A proposal of such significance, with the potential to affect the commercial, sporting and strategic future of world football, must not emerge through processes that leave Confederations, Member Associations (MAs) and even Fifa’s own governing bodies, including the Fifa Council, feeling sidelined.”

Overnight, Fifa insisted it would press ahead with plans to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors despite opposition now from three major confederations.
“Nobody is selling football,” Fifa said in a statement. “This is not something Fifa would ever entertain.”
It added: “Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports. We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA [member association] has the ability to express its vote based on facts.”
 
Spursex said:

Gianni Infantino’s senior adviser quits as pressure mounts on Fifa president​


Carlos Cordeiro’s resignation comes after Asian confederation joins Europe and Concacaf in clear majority of nations against World Cup sell-off plan​

Martyn Ziegler



Martyn Ziegler, Sports News Reporter of the Year
Friday July 31 2026, 10.35am, The Times




Gianni Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro has resigned in protest at the Fifa president’s attempt to sell off stakes in the World Cup.
The latest devastating blow to Infantino raises new questions over his future after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) issued a damning statement criticising the plans.

Cordeiro, an American who was heavily involved in the 2026 World Cup and is a former investment banker with Goldman Sachs, said: “As a senior adviser 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.

“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.


“Football has been central to my life, and after more than 35 years in banking, I understand both the value of this asset and the consequences of giving part of it away. That is why this proposal should be rejected.

“Fifa already has access to extraordinary financial resources. The organisation sits on billions of dollars in reserves and no debt. The Fifa president himself has highlighted the $15billion in revenue generated between 2022 and 2026. If member associations believe additional investment is needed to develop the game, Fifa already has the financial capacity to provide that support from its existing resources.
Cordeiro was heavily involved in this summer’s World CupBob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
“Against that backdrop, selling a permanent stake in football’s most valuable asset to raise $4.2billion makes little sense. It is mortgaging football’s future without any compelling justification.

“This proposal has become a defining question for Fifa’s future. After careful consideration, I can no longer continue in my role as senior adviser to the Fifa president. I have therefore resigned with immediate effect.”
He added: “Most troubling of all is the absence of answers to fundamental questions. Why this deal? Why now? What oversight exists? Who benefits? Was there a competitive process? What governance will be in place? What will investors ultimately gain, and at what cost to football?”

Who is Carlos Cordeiro?​


  • Carlos Cordeiro is a former banker turned sports executive. He spent more than two decades at Goldman Sachs, where he was a partner, before becoming president of the United States Soccer Federation in 2018.
  • After resigning from that role in 2020 amid criticism relating to his administration’s legal position on the US women’s team, he joined Fifa as a senior adviser on global strategy. He later became senior adviser to Gianni Infantino himself. Most recently, he served at president Trump’s direction as senior adviser to the White House Task Force for the World Cup.
The AFC said it stood “in solidarity with Uefa and Concacaf to protect the Fifa World Cup” after European nations said they would boycott Fifa tournaments if the plan goes ahead. The Concacaf nations in North and Central America are also opposing Infantino’s scheme.


With Europe (55 Fifa members) and Concacaf (35) committed to opposing the plans, only 16 of Asia’s 46 members would need to follow suit to have a majority of Fifa’s 211 nations against Infantino’s proposal.
“The AFC stands in solidarity with Uefa and Concacaf in expressing serious concerns over Fifa’s proposal to introduce private investment into Fifa’s flagship competitions and the decision-making process around FFE,” the AFC said in a statement.
“The fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of a Fifa World Cup boycott has entered public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of our game. Football should never have been placed in such a position.
“Against this backdrop, and in light of the clear positions expressed by Uefa and Concacaf, as well as the unprecedented divisions that have emerged across the football world, the AFC believes that the proposed FFE cannot realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward.
“The Fifa World Cup is the pinnacle of global football and derives its strength from the participation of all confederations and the world’s leading football nations. Any proposal that risks undermining the unity and universal character of the competition must be reconsidered.”
The AFC said the proposal had “exposed fundamental weaknesses” in Fifa’s consultation and decision-making processes.
It added: “While the AFC notes Fifa’s latest clarification on the proposal, the central concerns surrounding governance, institutional process and meaningful consultation remain unanswered. A proposal of such significance, with the potential to affect the commercial, sporting and strategic future of world football, must not emerge through processes that leave Confederations, Member Associations (MAs) and even Fifa’s own governing bodies, including the Fifa Council, feeling sidelined.”

Overnight, Fifa insisted it would press ahead with plans to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors despite opposition now from three major confederations.
“Nobody is selling football,” Fifa said in a statement. “This is not something Fifa would ever entertain.”
It added: “Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports. We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA [member association] has the ability to express its vote based on facts.”
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This is a total mess entirely of their own making.
 
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