FIFA executive Arsene Wenger backs decision to drop Gianni Infantino’s World Cup sell-off plan
Wenger said scrapping the proposal was necessary after FIFA faced backlash over a plan to sell about 20% of World Cup commercial rights for $4.2 billion.
- On Tuesday, Aug 4, FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger criticized President Gianni Infantino's proposal to sell a 20 per cent stake in the World Cup through the FIFA Forward Enterprise.
- UEFA, the European football governing body, threatened to boycott the World Cup and other FIFA competitions after the FFE scheme faced heavy rejection from three continental confederations, forcing the Swiss to abandon the idea.
- Wenger called the withdrawal "absolutely necessary and beyond question." His public criticism followed FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour, who stated last week that staff at the global governing body had been "deceived" by Infantino.
- The FAW confirmed it withdrew support on Aug 3, while UEFA issued a statement Aug 1 noting it had "lost confidence" in Infantino. The English Football Association is also reportedly contacting FIFA.
- Infantino faces re-election in March for a final term and needs 106 votes from 211 members to win. European Football Clubs have expressed concern regarding the scheme's impact on Club World Cup competition rights.
136 Articles
136 Articles
FIFA ruled out the sale of 20% of its commercial subsidiary following UEFA's opposition and Arsène Wenger's slinging, holding back the penetration of private capital into the tournament.
The main advocate of the project of opening up to private investors is becoming increasingly isolated.
Executives within FIFA distanced themselves from GIanni Infantino after his proposal for the project, finally aborted, to set up a commercial companyD-Arsène Wenger to General Secretary Mattias Grafström, voices rose up in FIFA to distance themselves from President Gianni Infantino, the main defender of a project finally aborted opening up to private investors, and candidate for his re-election in March. "The decision to withdraw the project was…
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