Wenger Backs FIFA World Cup Sell-Off Reversal as 'Necessary'
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- Arsène Wenger, FIFA's chief of global football development, called Infantino's withdrawal of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan 'absolutely necessary and beyond question' in a Tuesday statement, stressing his belief in 'an independent FIFA that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity.'
- Wenger disclosed he was 'not involved in this strategic plan' and first learned of the FFE project through media reports, issuing his statement one week after initial reports surfaced about selling a 20% stake to private equity.
- The FFE plan was rejected by three continental confederations, with UEFA escalating its opposition by threatening to boycott the World Cup and all other FIFA competitions if the proposal was not dropped.
- The Football Association and Football Association of Wales confirmed they withdrew their support for Infantino, with the FA understood to have written to FIFA on Monday to formalize its changed position.
- UEFA issued a Saturday statement welcoming the FFE withdrawal but declaring it had 'lost confidence' in Infantino, while clubs in the European Football Clubs (EFC) group separately contacted FIFA over concerns the plan would have affected Club World Cup rights and a planned joint venture with FIFA.
- Kevin Lamour, FIFA's chief operating officer, went further than Wenger in a statement to The Associated Press, alleging that FIFA staff had been 'deceived' by Infantino over the FFE initiative.
Why it matters: Wenger's public backing of the FFE withdrawal — combined with the FA and FAW pulling support and UEFA declaring lost confidence — means Infantino now faces unified European opposition within FIFA, with European associations and clubs having publicly broken with his leadership after the failed $20 billion privatization push.
