UK PM Burnham calls on FIFA’s Infantino to resign over World Cup sale plan

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Friday became the first leader of a major country to call for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign, saying the plan to sell stakes in the World Cup's commercial rights to private investors disqualifies him from leading the organization.

"My view is strengthening — this was an outrageous suggestion," Burnham said, according to ESPN. "The idea that it could even be brought forward, in my view, shows that the FIFA president is the wrong man to lead the organisation."espn

A Plan Under Siege

Infantino's proposal, revealed earlier this week, would create a new subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise to consolidate the governing body's commercial rights — including broadcast, sponsorship, ticketing, and licensing for the World Cup and other tournaments. FIFA has said the entity would carry an initial valuation of around $20 billion, with up to 20% offered to outside investors to raise approximately $4.2 billion for global football development.espn+1

Each of FIFA's 211 member associations would receive $20 million upon approval of the plan, with further payments through 2038, according to Time.time

But the backlash has been swift. UEFA's 55 member nations have unanimously agreed to boycott FIFA competitions if the plans proceed, while CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation have also rejected the proposal. Politico reported that when Burnham was told FIFA intended to press ahead despite the opposition, he responded: "Oh wow. Have they actually done that? Oh wow."politico+1

Political and Institutional Pressure Mounts

Burnham, a self-described lifelong Everton supporter who became prime minister on July 20 after replacing Keir Starmer as Labour leader, has injected a new dimension of political pressure into what had been a dispute largely confined to football's governing structures.sfs.georgetown+1

His intervention came the same day as the resignation of Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino's senior advisor and former U.S. Soccer president, who called the plan "a bad deal for football," according to reporting by en.albat.com.albat

The deadline for FIFA's member associations to approve the investment package is September 19, 2026. With confederations representing much of global football aligned against the proposal, Infantino faces a choice between retreating from his signature commercial initiative or risking a fracture in world football unlike any in the sport's modern history.espn+1