Arsène Wenger Supports FIFA's Decision to Abandon Controversial Investment Plan

Arsène Wenger has thrown his weight firmly behind Gianni Infantino’s decision to abandon a controversial plan to sell a slice of FIFA’s World Cup business to private investors, calling the U-turn “absolutely necessary and beyond question”.

The former Arsenal manager, now FIFA’s chief of global football development, broke his silence on Tuesday morning, one week after details first emerged of the proposal to create a new vehicle, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), and sell 20 per cent of it to private equity.

That plan ran into a wall. Three continental confederations rejected it outright, with UEFA going furthest and warning it could boycott the World Cup and other FIFA competitions if the project was not scrapped. Faced with the prospect of open revolt, Infantino backed down.

Wenger has now made clear he stood against the idea.

“The recent events at FIFA deserve some clarity from my side,” the Frenchman said in a statement, before outlining his role at the organisation and distancing himself from the FFE project.

“At FIFA, I am the Chief of Global Football Development. Together with my team, I oversee the data analysis of the game, the FIFA online training centre, the development of youth education through 60 academies across 60 countries where they are most needed, and youth competitions around the world. In addition, I am a technical adviser to IFAB.”

Then came the key line. Wenger stated he “was not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports”.

From there, he left no doubt about his stance on Infantino’s retreat.

“The decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question, because I firmly believe in an independent FIFA that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity.”

Unlike Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro, who chose to quit the organisation over the affair, Wenger gave no hint that he plans to walk away. Instead, he positioned himself as a guardian of principle inside FIFA, stressing independence and integrity at a moment when the governing body’s direction is again under scrutiny.

The battle over FFE has been halted. The argument over what kind of FIFA emerges from it is only just beginning.