FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger, has distanced himself from Gianni Infantino's controversial World Cup investment proposal, saying its withdrawal was the right decision for football's integrity.
Former Arsenal manager and FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger, has publicly backed the decision to abandon FIFA President Gianni Infantino's controversial proposal to sell a 20 percent stake in the FIFA World Cup to private equity investors, describing the move as "absolutely necessary and beyond question."
The proposal, which was to be implemented through a new commercial entity known as FIFA Forward Enterprise, sought to bring private investment into the commercial rights of the World Cup. However, the initiative attracted strong criticism from football governing bodies, national associations and other stakeholders, raising concerns about the future independence and governance of world football.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Wenger clarified that he was not involved in developing the proposal and only became aware of it after media reports emerged.
"The recent events at FIFA deserve some clarity from my side," Wenger said.
He explained that his responsibilities at FIFA focus on football development, youth academies, coaching education, technical analysis and advising the International Football Association Board (IFAB), rather than commercial or financial matters.
Wenger stressed that withdrawing the proposal was the correct decision because FIFA must remain an independent organisation committed to serving football with transparency, integrity and accountability.
His comments add to growing criticism of the abandoned investment plan, which faced opposition from several continental football confederations. UEFA, European football's governing body, was among the strongest critics and reportedly warned that it could boycott FIFA competitions if the proposal moved forward.
The controversy has also exposed divisions within FIFA's leadership. Earlier, FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour stated that staff members had been "deceived" over aspects of the proposal, while several European football associations have reportedly withdrawn support for Infantino ahead of the next FIFA presidential election.
Infantino's proposal would have allowed private equity investors to acquire a minority stake in a commercial entity managing World Cup revenues. Supporters argued that the investment could generate additional funding for football development worldwide, but critics feared it would hand excessive influence over the sport's biggest tournament to private investors.
Following widespread opposition, FIFA withdrew the proposal, effectively ending one of the most controversial governance debates in recent football history. Analysts say the episode has intensified scrutiny of FIFA's leadership and could influence discussions on governance reforms and future commercial strategies within the global football body.
Wenger's intervention is particularly significant because of his senior role within FIFA. His public support for abandoning the proposal is seen by many observers as reinforcing calls for greater transparency, accountability and institutional independence as world football prepares for future tournaments.