A FIFA advisor has resigned in protest over a plan put forward by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, according to Portuguese news outlet SAPO. The advisor said they could not "stand idly by" while the proposal moves forward.
The resignation comes amid growing international backlash to Infantino's plan, which has drawn criticism from European football bodies and political leaders. SAPO reported the advisor's departure as a direct act of opposition to the FIFA president's agenda.
The controversy has also prompted a response from the British prime minister, who told Folha de S.Paulo that Infantino is "the wrong person" to lead FIFA. The criticism adds to mounting pressure on the organization's leadership.
European confederations have signaled they may boycott the tournament in question, according to reporting from GZH. Meanwhile, the South American confederation CONMEBOL has not yet taken a formal position, leaving it as the last major continental body to respond.
FIFA has pushed back against the coverage, with ESPN Brasil reporting that the organization blames the press for inflaming the dispute. A FIFA representative said "nobody is selling football" and dismissed the controversy as a media-driven narrative.
The situation has escalated to the point where a supercomputer simulation of the 2030 World Cup without European teams was run by Brazilian outlet ge, which projected Brazil reaching the final under that scenario.
The advisor's resignation signals deepening internal dissent at FIFA's highest levels. Attention now turns to whether other officials will follow suit, and whether CONMEBOL will align with the European position or back Infantino's plan.
