Key facts
- FIFA adviser Carlos Cordeiro has resigned.
- Cordeiro resigned in protest against a plan to sell a 20% stake in the World Cup's commercial subsidiary.
- The proposed venture is valued at $20 billion.
- Cordeiro called the deal a "bad deal for football."
Carlos Cordeiro, an adviser to FIFA, has resigned from his position in protest against a proposed deal that would sell a 20% stake in the World Cup's commercial subsidiary to private equity investors. Cordeiro publicly stated that he views the proposed venture, valued at $20 billion, as a "bad deal for football." His resignation signals internal opposition to plans that could significantly alter the financial structure and control of FIFA's most lucrative asset. The specific details of the private equity plan and the identity of the potential investors have not been fully disclosed, but the scale of the proposed stake and valuation indicates a significant shift in FIFA's commercial strategy. Cordeiro's departure raises questions about the long-term implications of such a deal for the governance and integrity of international football's premier event.