Gianni Infantino faced a significant setback on Friday following the resignation of a high-level advisor. The departure stems from a controversial proposal to sell a portion of FIFA’s World Cup commercial operations.
Sunil Gulati, the former U.S. Soccer Federation president, voiced strong opposition to the plan. He stated that as both a former banker and a dedicated supporter of the sport, he could not remain silent while such a proposal was being evaluated. He explicitly noted he played no role in the creation of this initiative and rejects the idea entirely.
Gulati argued that selling a stake in the tournament would be detrimental to member associations and the future health of football. This exit occurred shortly after FIFA announced its intention to move forward with a transparent consultation process regarding the potential deal.
