Gianni Infantino faces growing scrutiny as FIFA hits 10‑year mark

sportsJul 31, 20261025,083

On his 10th anniversary as FIFA president, Gianni Infantino is under growing scrutiny after FIFA proposed selling stakes in its competitions, including the World Cup. UEFA’s 55 member associations voted to boycott future tournaments if the plans go ahead, saying "the World Cup is not for sale." Indonesian outlet Kompas reported Infantino offered investment incentives up to about 40 million US dollars per country to advance the proposal. The push comes after a decade in which Infantino rebuilt FIFA’s finances from a reported $550 million shortfall and has driven expansion that helped FIFA forecast record revenues of about $13 billion for the current three-year cycle. Infantino has clashed with players’ unions and European football over his agenda, and regional bodies including the Asian confederation have signaled demands for urgent governance review if the proposals continue. The standoff raises the prospect of a formal boycott, increased governance scrutiny, and potential leadership challenges within world football.

smtm_LFC1975

@smtmlfc.bsky.social

Gianni Infantino's #2 quits. Yet another excoriating statement saying it's bad for football. It's bad for member states. It's bad all round. My opinion is - Infantino is on borrowed time now. Absolute shithouse of a man.

232945d ago

itbeatstwitter.bsky.social46

I think what is lost in all of this is that the private equity firm in question is owned by the Kushner family. The corruption is bad enough, but the slavish sycophantic sell out to Trump is what will be his downfall

Bill Ebrill44

The ‘peace prize’ was the kiss of death. Infantino is now choking on the fumes from Trumps ass.

E-pill Girl Dad30

it was over for him as soon as the "FIFA Peace Prize" became a thing.

Mike of the North21

FIFA has always been a corrupt organization but they decided to hitch their wagon to Tacotits. What they didn't realize is that everything he touches dies. FIFA needs to completely change it leadership and clean up their house. Become truly about the sport and the fans again and not about the $.

meribel123.bsky.social14

I think this is a worldwide assault- he’s right, we hate what FIFA & he are trying to do. It is literally sucking the life out of world football and he needs to go. Immediately. So resign already, Infantino. But beyond him, I’m certain the organization cannot continue in this manner even without him

Sophie12

I believe he's in the Epstein Files

Quoting this

Brooke Harrington17

ETTD...and that goes double for sports

Joe3

I guess it's true, everything tRump touches dies.

Gibson/Fender Guy Living with Golden Retrievers 🇨🇦3

“My opinion is - Infantino is on borrowed time now” Most accurate post on the internet today! AGREED!

Mark Chadbourn

@chadbourn.bsky.social

Infantino's senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro, a former investment banker, quits in protest at World Cup sell-off.

35145d ago

Mark Chadbourn148

Statement from the Asian Football Confederation. Stake through the heart of Trump and Infantino’s grift.

Grizzled Shopkeep15

What if Infantino gives himself a FIFA Prize in High Finance, would that help

BrianB13

Remember, everyone who comes into contact with Trump ends up like this. Sychofantino deserves this.

Charley Norbury 🇪🇺🇬🇧🇪🇺12

If it's too distasteful for an investment banker, it's really rancid. Is it not more likely he's quitting because he doesn't think the grift will work, rather than having moral problems with it?

Julie Wash12

When you lose the investment bankers….

Tropical Vatnikbonker 🇸🇪🇫🇮🇪🇺9

Rats jumping ship. Infantino's crime empire seems to have reached its peak about two weeks ago. It can be a bumpy ride from now on.

Quoting this

Citizen Snippy △13

It's just all getting too greedy and problematic for the former Goldman Sachs partner who chose to work at an infamously corrupt sports body

Alan Stedman9

I would say the rats are leaving the ship but of course what's is actually happening is the King Rat is still in charge - at least for the moment

Olli Rajala5

Kappas. Futissekoilu saa uusia kierteitä.

Dag.4

So corrupt that investment bankers tap out. That's quite impressive (derogatory).

arseblog

@arseblog.com

Carlos Cordeiro, Senior Advisor to Gianni Infantino quits, and urges other 'principled' people in FIFA to speak out against the sell-off plan. He also lays bare how unnecessary it is. 'The organisation sits on billions of dollars of reserves ...' 💵💵💵

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.
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 organization sits on billions of dollars in reserves and no debt. The FIFA President himself has highlighted the $15 billion 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. Against that backdrop, selling a permanent stake in football's most valuable asset to raise $4.2 billion makes little sense. It is mortgaging football's future without any compelling justification.

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?

After careful consideration, I can no longer continue in my role as Senior Advisor to the FIFA President. I have therefore resigned with immediate effect.

It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve FIFA for more than five years & to work alongside dedicated, principled people who care deeply about the game. I hope they, too, will speak up, because decisions of this magnitude should be made in the interests of football, not those who stand to profit from it.

37045d ago

Andrew Thompson7

People have beaten me to it… Wenger tarnishes his Arsenal legacy by this complicity with Infantino’s bullshit.

Joseph Steyne6

What the fuck is Arsene (not) doing??

Docker5

Arsene? Arsene ? Allo? Ou es-tu?

From the Other Side of the Mirror2

He nails it....."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?"

Mikel's Midfield Club2

If "lifelong football fan" Carlos Cordeiro thought FIFA was honky dory up until yesterday and now decides to write all this he's probably not much less of a gangster than Infantino, just a bit smarter. Time to jump ship.

Rich1

At least one person at FIFA reads Arseblog 😉

Quoting this

Quasiland 🇬🇱🇨🇦3

This escalates quickly and hopefully it is the end of Gianni Corruptino

MB Brown2

FIFA, more corruption, more controversy. And at least one person with principles is standing up, speaking out.

BladeoftheSun

@bladeofthes.bsky.social

People are calling for Gianni Infantino to resign. He shouldn't resign, he should be fired, and then investigated for Fraud.

31444d ago

Seven of Nine Fan 🇪🇺🇺🇦🇬🇱🌍🖖🏼2

Exactly. Give him the red card. And yes, then investigate for fraud.

Olga Nesterova

@onestpress.onestnetwork.com

Reuters: Carlos Cordeiro, senior advisor to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, resigned with immediate effect on Friday in protest at proposals to sell a stake in the World Cup, calling the plan "a bad deal for football".

21644d ago

Olga Nesterova37

As to infantino staying, insiders say his position is weak, but he is a fighter and know where “the bodies lie” as well.

Glenn2

Everything Trump touches dies. What is the opposite of the Midas touch?

Putin, the Funking Barsteward2

Someone there has some morals or ethics. Few and far between, methinks in that organisation.

European Citizen1

When public leaders normalize conflicts of interest, nepotism and corruption in the pursuit of power or money, they teach everyone below them that anything goes. Impunity at the top doesn’t stay at the top. It becomes the standard.

Boulder Colorado Veteran1

The rats are fleeing the ship. and posturing for leadership positions with the inevitable new regime.

Carlos Noreña

@carlosfnorena.bsky.social

This is an important story, beyond the world of sports. There were BIG MONEY interests at stake here. But *organized opposition* to a cartoonishly corrupt sell-off torpedoed the plan. Almost immediately. There is a lesson here.

10044d ago

Carlos Noreña8

One lesson is that the opposition was not scattered or weak. The core of the opposition was a unified UEFA -- the largest and most powerful federation. Lesson applied: imagine if the presidents of the wealthiest private universities and state flagships worked *together* against the Trump assault.

Smoochy Rhino2

Infantino needs tp be replaced.

Marque1

Football is a sacred cow

booond1

FIFA is a corrupt organization. Always have been.

manleypeg.bsky.social1

Infantino is just a dirty player in this. His bending to Trump has put a black mark on fifa.

Quoting this

Joe Public 🍁3

middle powers working together are stronger

chácara klabin morning news2

além do mais, sem meme nenhum: tem que unificar urgentemente a CONMEBOL com a CONCACAF

POLITICO Europe

@politico.eu

British PM Andy Burnham has said that Gianni Infantino should quit as president as FIFA over his plans to sell a stake in the World Cup.

7244d ago

Margaret Morgan 🇪🇺🇳🇱🇦🇺

@margaretmorgan.bsky.social

One of the reasons that Infantino is so keen on this deal is that there are term limits on the FIFA presidency (max. 3 terms, 4 years each). His 12 years are up in 2028 & he wants the rules changed to let him stay. If his Kushner deal went ahead, he'd be CEO & protected. It's all about the grift.

4845d ago

Frau Cernik3

Exactly the same as Trump , corrupt to the core incl the Kushner family.

On NGUNNAWAL land - the beating ❤️ of our nation3

Craig Foster had some words to say about this 'robbery' 👇 youtu.be/EKSjsA2jc8I?...

Eleanor Irving1

Is there nothing these people don't have their greedy, greasy paws in?

peter.glen1

How much money does he need. If I had one year of his salary I could retire comfortably.

James Dart

@jamesdart.bsky.social

Carlos Cordeiro, senior ⁠adviser to Gianni Infantino, ⁠resigns in protest: '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'

5945d ago

Ryan2

did they resign before or after UEFA, AFC & CONCACAF opposed the proposal?

Quoting this

Phil Baki3

And let’s be clear this isn’t some “soccer bleeding heart.” Carlos Cordeiro was an investment banker at GOLDMAN SACHS If he doesn’t like the deal, how could anyone?

Bule Betawi3

Rats start leaving the ship. Gianni doesn't last another week.

The New Republic

@newrepublic.com

Gianni Infantino’s latest grifty scheme should begin the conversation about replacing an organization that cannot be reformed with something better. trib.al/BVd5vsx

5044d ago

Justin Powell1

Looking at Infantino's brash, disorganized brand of Italo-Swiss corruption, I miss the suave and understated style of Sepp Blatter's German-Swiss corruption.

Manuel Veth

@manuelveth.bsky.social

Statement by the FIFA President. The proposal to sell the World Cup is dead. This sounds like a last straw to keep hanging on to his presidency. Despite this, it’s pretty clear to say that Infantino needs to be removed now. Hopefully all stake holders keep up the pressure.

5144d ago

Nate Bowling6

Low-key, UEFA just gave us a lesson in authoritarian politics: the most effective check on a power grab is when members of the governing coalition refuse to go along with it.

Quoting this

Manuel Veth26

I think everyone but Gianni knows that his role as fifa president is over. To say it like the kids, he is cooked.

Andy Brown

@andybrown1951.bsky.social

Well done UEFA and the other football associations who are refusing to let the infant Tino sell off the soul of football and leave it having to make regular massive pay outs to those who have bought the shares. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

6445d ago

Señor Panda

@raf.bsky.social

It’s time for Gianni Infantino—& FIFA, really—to go. Me, in @newrepublic.com: newrepublic.com/article/2137... Read it & share it, please.

3645d ago

The Athletic

@theathletic.com

FIFA and Gianni Infantino have performed a U-turn on his plot to sell a stake in its commercial and event operations after widespread condemnation of the plans. Details: nyti.ms/4g2dPex

4444d ago

Quoting this

Andrew Hammond13

Buddy saw UEFA and CONCACAF uniting like Endgame and tucked tail

Caio Bitencourt5

Durou 3 dias e foi pro mesmo cemitério da Superliga Europeia

Eric Michael Garcia2

Still don't get why the Mexico took such a milquetoast approach.

Flying Mezerkis2

What I never could have hoped for, was that being “tired of the winning” would be true beyond the Trump Regime itself.

LBC

@lbc.co.uk

'It's simultaneously hideous and hilarious...' @mrjamesob.bsky.social accuses Gianni Infantino of being a 'sycophant' towards Trump, with the US president being the main influence behind FIFA's current decisions.

3845d ago

sharkyshark10.bsky.social1

All it takes is enough national football associations to leave FIFA and set up a rival. It’s game over for FIFA at that point.

3 sources

bbc.co.ukGianni Infantino - 10 years as Fifa president bbc.comFifa World Cup: Uefa to boycott tournament if Gianni Infantino's investment plans go through theguardian.comFifa to push ahead with consultation plan despite backlash and insists ‘nobody is selling football’

FIFA scraps controversial World Cup investment plansports Carlos Cordeiro quits as FIFA advisersports Tony Romo on leave from CBS Sports after OWI arrestsports AFC joins UEFA and Concacaf in opposing FIFA World Cup stake plansports

Gianni Infantino faces growing scrutiny as FIFA hits 10‑year mark

Related