UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign over the football governing body’s controversial proposal to sell a stake in the commercial rights of the FIFA World Cup to private investors.
Burnham’s call comes amid growing opposition to the plan from major football confederations and stakeholders across the globe. UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have all rejected the proposal, arguing that it could undermine the integrity and independence of football’s flagship tournament.
Speaking on Friday, the British leader described the proposal as “an outrageous suggestion” and questioned Infantino’s suitability to continue leading FIFA.
“My view is strengthening; this was an outrageous suggestion. The idea that it could even be brought forward, in my view, shows that the FIFA president is the wrong man to lead the organisation,” Burnham said.
Burnham, who assumed office as the United Kingdom’s prime minister just over two weeks ago, becomes the first leader of a major nation to publicly call for Infantino’s resignation over the proposed investment plan.
The controversy intensified after UEFA’s 55 member associations agreed to boycott FIFA competitions if the proposal remained under consideration. If implemented, the boycott would prevent leading football nations, including England, Germany, France and reigning world champions Spain, from participating in FIFA tournaments, including the men’s and women’s World Cups.
The UK prime minister, a lifelong Everton supporter, had earlier criticised the proposal on social media, insisting that football should remain in the hands of supporters rather than private investors.
His intervention follows the resignation of senior FIFA adviser and former United States Soccer Federation president Carlos Cordeiro, who stepped down in protest, saying he could not support any move to sell a stake in the World Cup and had no involvement in developing the proposal.
The proposed investment plan, which sought to raise billions of dollars by selling a minority stake in the World Cup’s commercial rights, has sparked widespread criticism over concerns about governance, transparency and the future ownership of football’s most prestigious competition. FIFA has since withdrawn the proposal following the mounting backlash.
