Top FIFA Officials Wenger and Grafström Distance Themselves From Infantino's World Cup Sell-Off Plan
Wenger said the withdrawn plan would have sold 20% of World Cup rights to private equity and drew rejection from three continental confederations.
- 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.
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FIFA has faced complex days after the end of North America 2026. After the competition, FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced a proposal to sell the World Cup.This bill generated a wide rejection by the various member associations and has generated that several people turn their backs on the football boss, including his right hand Carlos Cordeiro.Now came the case of Arsene Wenger, current director of FIFA's Football Development who took off…
Gianni Infantino's plans for the World Cup sales are getting more and more out of the way. FIFA Secretary General Grafström and Arsène Wenger are now falling into his back.
The former Arsenal, in FIFA since 2019, asked that the entity be independent, ensuring that it was on the sidelines of the initiative, which I only knew through the media
Following the withdrawal of FIFA boss Gianni Infantino's highly controversial plan, the power struggle in global football is by no means over. While potential successors are already being discussed, Infantino fights on. He hopes for the – crucial – support of smaller footballing nations.
In an email sent, Tuesday, August 4, to the employees of the body governing world football, which "The World" has acquired, Mattias Grafström stands out from the boss of the Federation, regretting a "sudden and reprehensible series of events" in connection with Gianni Infantino's aborted project to create a commercial company.
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