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Prime Minister Andy Burnham calls for 'wrong man' Gianni Infantino to be replaced as FIFA president

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World Cup

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has branded Gianni Infantino the wrong man to lead FIFA following widespread backlash over plans for private equity to sell stakes in the World Cup. Burnham condemned the controversial commercial proposals after a senior adviser resigned and key regional confederations united to oppose the governing body’s blueprint.

  • Burnham condemns Infantino leadership

    Burnham has launched a stinging attack on Infantino’s leadership of FIFA following a wave of backlash against plans to commercialise the organisation. The resistance has intensified following the resignation of senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro and formal opposition from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), UEFA, and CONCACAF. Burnham argued that Infantino’s attempt to sell off a stake in FIFA competitions to private investors represents a fundamentally flawed decision for the future of world football.

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  • imago-sport-1079156700.jpgSW Pix

    Prime Minister demands change

    Speaking to reporters on Friday, Burnham openly condemned the proposed private equity scheme. He said: "This was an outrageous suggestion," before questioning Infantino's suitability to remain in charge of FIFA: "The idea that it could even be brought forward shows that, in my view, [he] is the wrong man to lead the organisation."

  • Private equity blueprint rejected

    Burnham's scathing critique reflects a broader global resistance, including a firm stance taken by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

    In an official statement, the AFC rejected plans to establish the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) commercial subsidiary and stressed the necessity of preserving the integrity of football's premier tournament: "The Fifa World Cup is the pinnacle of global football and derives its strength from the participation of all Confederations and the world's leading football nations.

    "Any proposal that risks undermining the unity and universal character of the competition must be reconsidered."

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  • Gianni InfantinoGetty Images

    Infantino faces mounting pressure

    Dwindling political support and potential opposition from a majority of confederation votes have left FIFA’s commercialisation plans teetering on the brink of collapse. With an opposing bloc comprising 136 member associations, Infantino faces a genuine leadership crisis ahead of formal decision-making.

    FIFA must now urgently undertake a comprehensive review of its governance framework and decision-making processes to heal growing global divisions.