Arsene Wenger has broken his silence on Gianni Infantino's controversial plan to sell stakes in a World Cup company, saying the decision to withdraw it was "absolutely necessary and beyond question".
Wenger's statement
In a statement released on Tuesday morning, the former Arsenal manager, who is FIFA's chief of global football development, said he was not involved in the strategic plan and first became aware of it through media reports. He emphasized his belief in an independent FIFA that serves the game with "commitment, transparency, and integrity".
The plan, which involved creating FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) and selling a 20 per cent stake to private equity, was rejected by three continental confederations. UEFA went further, threatening to boycott the World Cup and other FIFA competitions if it was not dropped.
Fallout continues
Wenger's statement comes amid growing dissent from European associations. The Football Association is understood to have written to FIFA confirming its change in position, while the Football Association of Wales has publicly withdrawn its support. UEFA welcomed the withdrawal but expressed a loss of confidence in Infantino.
Clubs within the European Football Clubs group have also contacted FIFA over concerns about the plan, which was intended to cover Club World Cups and would have affected agreements on competition rights. FIFA currently has no agreement with EFC for the 2029 Club World Cup.
