Luis Figo Urges Infantino to Quit Over World Cup Stake Plan, Deepening FIFA Crisis
Updated
Updated · CNN · Aug 5
Luis Figo Urges Infantino to Quit Over World Cup Stake Plan, Deepening FIFA Crisis
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Aug 5
Summary
Luis Figo said Gianni Infantino "must go," accusing the FIFA president in an op-ed of deceit and self-interest after the aborted plan to sell private stakes in the World Cup.
The backlash centered on a proposal to place the World Cup's commercial and operational rights in a separate entity with private investors, a move critics said would trade away football's governance and future revenues.
UEFA and other continental and national bodies helped force Infantino to retreat, and senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned last week in protest.
Support has not collapsed everywhere: five prominent African soccer administrators have backed Infantino, reflecting Africa's heavier reliance on FIFA funding.
The revolt marks a sharp reversal for Infantino, who only weeks ago reportedly had re-election support letters from about 200 of FIFA's 211 member federations.