Jamie Carragher has revealed how FIFA tried to get him to publicly endorse a controversial plan after a private Zoom call with president Gianni Infantino and chief of global football development Arsene Wenger. The former Liverpool defender said he was asked to support the idea of a biennial World Cup on social media, but he refused, calling the proposal 'rubbish'.
Carragher's account of the Zoom call
Speaking on the Football Ramble podcast, Carragher said he was invited by Wenger to join a call with other former players to discuss the World Cup being held every two years. The call included players from around the world, such as Javier Mascherano, and focused on the pros of the idea.
Carragher said he listened and asked questions but did not express his opposition during the call. However, after the call ended, the organiser texted him asking to put out a supportive message. Carragher refused, saying he did not agree with the plan.
FIFA's lobbying tactics exposed
Carragher said the experience gave him insight into how FIFA used ex-players to make themselves look good, regardless of the players' actual opinions. He said many of the ex-players on the call did not care about the issue.
This comes amid a revolt against Infantino's FIFA Forward Enterprise plan, a $20 billion (£14.9bn) proposal to sell a stake in FIFA's commercial operations. UEFA's 55 member nations threatened to boycott FIFA competitions, and other confederations expressed concerns about transparency. Infantino was forced to scrap the plan, but UEFA leaders have reportedly lost confidence in him and are preparing a rival candidate for the next presidential election.
