The man who represented FIFA on the White House’s World Cup Task Force has resigned in protest over the soccer organization’s private equity plan.
Senior FIFA Advisor Carlos Cordeiro said in a statement that he cannot stand by while his boss, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, plans to sell a stake in the World Cup to outside investors, and urges others inside soccer’s governing body to speak out.
Infantino wants to sell stakes in the World Cup to investors that are anchored by Joshua Kushner, the brother of President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Cordeiro often joined Infantino on working visits to the White House in recent years.
The official governing bodies of Europe and Asia have already said they will boycott all FIFA events until Infantino drops the idea.
Critics worry outside investors will prioritize revenue over the integrity of the World Cup and bristle at Infantino’s rollout of the plan.
An NPR editor adapted this audio report by John Stolnis.