.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has publicly called for Gianni Infantino to step down as FIFA president, saying he no longer has confidence in the football chief following a controversial proposal to sell part of FIFA’s commercial operations to private investors.
Carney made the remarks during a news conference on August 5, criticizing FIFA’s leadership and decision-making process after the governing body abandoned the proposal amid widespread opposition.
The now-withdrawn plan involved creating a commercial subsidiary known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to oversee revenue-generating competitions, including the FIFA World Cup.
Under the proposal, FIFA intended to sell a 20 percent stake in the new company, aiming to raise approximately $4.2 billion and valuing the business at around $20 billion.
The proposal sparked strong resistance from several football governing bodies, including UEFA and CONCACAF.
UEFA reportedly warned it could boycott FIFA competitions if the plan moved forward, while CONCACAF also voiced its opposition.
Speaking to reporters, Carney questioned Infantino’s leadership, saying the handling of the proposal had damaged trust within FIFA. I don’t have confidence in Mr. Infantino after what transpired,” Carney said, adding that the events surrounding the proposal raised serious concerns about the organization’s governance.
Carney also pointed to the resignation of Carlos Cordeiro, a former FIFA adviser and member of the White House Task Force for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to the Canadian leader, Cordeiro—whom he described as a person of high integrity—was not consulted on a proposal of significant importance despite his expertise.
Carney argued that major decisions affecting a global organization like FIFA should involve proper consultation with senior advisers and board members.
He said failing to inform key officials before advancing such a significant proposal undermined confidence in the organization’s leadership. This is not how you run any business, let alone an organization with global responsibility like football,” Carney said.
Following criticism from football stakeholders and member associations, FIFA officially abandoned the proposal to sell a stake in its commercial business.
The decision came after growing concerns that the move could alter the governance and long-term independence of world football’s governing body.
Carney and Infantino had previously appeared together during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which was jointly hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico, including at the tournament’s final where they presented awards.
The latest comments mark one of the strongest public criticisms of Infantino from a world leader and are likely to intensify discussions about transparency, governance, and accountability within FIFA.
