Arsène Wenger Criticized Over FIFA Private Investment Plan

UEFA and its 55 European member federations warned they would boycott upcoming FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, if FIFA proceeds with a plan to create a commercial entity that would allow private investors to buy shares of the tournament. The proposal, championed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, sparked resignations and public criticism within the organization. FIFA’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro stepped down, saying he could not stay silent while the World Cup was being put up for sale, and FIFA’s third‑ranking official Kevin Lamour denounced the scheme as a “one‑person project.”

Amid the outcry, Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s director of football development, remained mute. British media labeled his silence a betrayal, noting his close relationship with Infantino. German Football Association president Bern Neuendorf suggested that only Infantino’s inner circle, including Wenger, were aware of the plan well in advance, intensifying scrutiny of Wenger’s role.