Key FIFA official Carlos Cordeiro quit Friday and delivered a blistering statement against the plan to bring private investors into the governing body’s business.
Cordeiro is a former Goldman Sachs banker who was the president of U.S. Soccer from 2018 to 2020 and was a major link between FIFA president Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Cordeiro is the latest voice in a growing chorus of soccer leaders questioning Infantino’s leadership this week. Infantino had been heading unopposed toward reelection in March.
Cordeiro issued a scathing statement on his way out the door. He said he had “no involvement” in the FIFA proposal and said “I oppose it unequivocally” because it is a “bad deal” for national federations, the sport, and the future of soccer.
“FIFA’s responsibility is not to maximize commercial returns at any cost,” Cordeiro wrote.
