FIFA's private investment plan hit by senior advisor resigning

PARIS, July 31 (Agencies): FIFA president Gianni Infantino's senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro has resigned stating that he had no involvement in football's governing body FIFA's proposed private investment plan.

"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," wrote Cordeiro.

"Let me be clear: I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally," the former head of the US Soccer Federation also said.

"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," he added.

He announced the resignation hours after FIFA vowed to move with "open and democratic" consultation of the plan.

AFP adds, meanwhile, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) joined UEFA and CONCACAF in condemning FIFA's decision, stating on Friday they were alarmed it had reached the point a "World Cup boycott has entered public discourse".

The statement followed a pledge by Europe's governing body UEFA to boycott the World Cup if FIFA went ahead with its plan, which set alarm bells ringing within the AFC.

"The AFC stands in solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF in expressing serious concerns over FIFA's proposal," the Kuala Lumpur-based body said in a statement.

"The fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of a FIFA World Cup boycott has entered public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of our game," said the AFC, which represents 47 member nations, including Australia, China, Japan and Saudi Arabia.

FIFA said in a statement all of its member associations should have a chance to consider the plan.

"Nobody is selling football," it said.

"This is not something FIFA would ever entertain."

It also said it had heard feedback from UEFA and CONCACAF, the governing body for football in North and Central America, which said all 41 of its member associations had rejected FIFA's proposal to sell a stake in the business operations of the World Cup. The world body also said its planned consultation process had been "disrupted by incorrect media reports".

"We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation," FIFA's statement said.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Friday Gianni Infantino was "the wrong man" to lead FIFA following the launch of a controversial plan to sell stakes in competitions to private investors.

As global opposition mounted, Burnham returned to the subject, calling the plan "an outrageous suggestion".

"The idea that it could even be brought forward shows that, in my view, that (Infantino) is the wrong man to lead the organisation," Burnham added.

Burnham's strong words follow his initial robust reaction to Infantino's proposals earlier in the week.