Fifa's chief of global football development Arsene Wenger has endorsed the decision to scrap a controversial plan that would have allowed private investors to stake in major Fifa competitions, calling the withdrawal 'absolutely necessary.'
Fifa president Gianni Infantino's proposal to establish a commercial subsidiary for running major tournaments, including the World Cup, with external investment opportunities has been permanently abandoned following widespread opposition. The scheme offered Fifa's 211 member associations $40 million each to support the plan, but faced intense criticism that ultimately forced its withdrawal.
Arsene Wenger, who has served as Fifa's chief of global football development since 2019, stated that the decision to scrap the initiative was essential for maintaining the organization's integrity. In a statement released through Fifa, the former Arsenal manager emphasized his lack of involvement in the strategic proposal, saying he learned of it through media reports. He stressed that an independent Fifa committed to transparency and integrity was fundamental to the sport's governance.
The backlash proved decisive, with European football's governing body Uefa threatening a boycott across all Fifa tournaments involving its 55 member nations. Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino's senior adviser on global strategy and governance, resigned over the matter, characterizing the proposal as detrimental to football's long-term interests. Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, typically viewed as close to Infantino, acknowledged the difficult period in an internal memo to staff while urging employees to maintain focus on serving the sport and member associations. Eighteen Fifa officials have been named in a legal action threat issued by Uefa.
