Former Arsenal manager and FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsene Wenger, has endorsed FIFA’s decision to abandon its proposed private investment initiative, describing the reversal as the only appropriate outcome following widespread backlash.
The proposal, championed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, sought to establish a commercial subsidiary to oversee the organisation’s flagship tournaments, including the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cups. Under the plan, private investors would have been allowed to acquire stakes in the business, while FIFA’s 211 member associations were each promised $40 million in exchange for their support.
The initiative, however, faced fierce resistance from football stakeholders. UEFA’s 55 member associations threatened to boycott FIFA competitions if the proposal proceeded, forcing Infantino to withdraw the plan.
Wenger, who has headed FIFA’s global football development department since 2019, clarified that he had no role in designing the proposal and only became aware of it through media reports.
In a statement released by FIFA, Wenger said the governing body made the right decision by abandoning the project.
“The recent events at FIFA deserve some clarity from my side. I was not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports.
“The decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question, because I firmly believe in an independent FIFA that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity.”
Although Wenger had previously backed Infantino’s unsuccessful proposal to hold the FIFA World Cup every two years, he stressed that the investment plan was outside his area of responsibility. His current duties include overseeing football development, youth competitions, data analysis and FIFA’s online education programmes.
The French football icon is also among 18 FIFA officials listed in a document preservation request issued by UEFA, which is considering legal action over the now-abandoned proposal.
Meanwhile, the controversy has already led to the resignation of Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino’s senior adviser on global strategy and governance. Cordeiro stepped down after publicly describing the proposal as “a bad deal for football” that would “mortgage football’s future.”
