Important FIFA official: Infantino betrayed the employees

Previously, Carlos Cordeiro, a high-ranking adviser to Infantino, was in protest against the project was withdrawn. He also associated this with sharp criticism. He also emphasized that he was not involved in the plans. “It is one person’s project,” Lamour wrote, indirectly demanding consequences. “Not only must this project not continue, but the time has now come for political decision-makers in football to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions.”

Lamour did not declare his resignation from his position, which he has held since November 1, 2024, and justified this with his obligation to his colleagues. The Frenchman, who is also a Swiss citizen, made it clear: “If that means that I lose my job, then so be it. I will understand and respect this decision. At least I will sleep peacefully at night.”

Majority for plans now seems questionable

Since FIFA’s plans became known, massive resistance to them has formed. The European Football Union is even threatening that its 55 member associations will no longer compete in FIFA competitions such as World Cups.

According to FIFA, private investors will be able to acquire around 20 percent of the shares in the newly founded subsidiary FFE, whose value is initially set at a total of 20 billion dollars. The FFE bundles the commercial rights to FIFA competitions such as the Men’s and Women’s World Cups and the Club World Cup. FIFA would remain the majority shareholder of the company and, according to its own statements, would continue to have control over the match calendar and all questions regarding the regulations. However, it is currently questionable whether a majority of the world’s 211 associations would support the plans.

In the midst of the events surrounding the possible entry of investors into the World Cup, it has now also become known that FIFA is apparently actually pushing ahead with a further increase in the number of participating countries in the World Cup. As the Guardian, ESPN and Sky News, among others, report with reference to documents from the world association available to them, FIFA wants the effects of a possible increaseto have 64 teams examined.

According to the reports, an independent company will be selected for this by August 14th. This company then has four weeks to analyze the proposed expansion. During the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, which was held for the first time with 48 teams, Infantino sparked discussion about further expanding the field of participants. It is a topic that one should “definitely” think about after the World Cup, said the 56-year-old.