Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said the decision to scrap FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s controversial plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup was “absolutely necessary and beyond question”.
Wenger works as FIFA’s chief of global football development — he was appointed in 2019 — and the Frenchman became the latest high-profile figure to criticise Infantino’s scheme on Tuesday.
Infantino wanted to sell a 20 per cent stake in the World Cup to private equity investors through his FIFA Forward Enterprise.
The plan sparked a barrage of criticism for Infantino and has been rejected by three continental confederations, forcing the Italian to ditch his divisive idea.
UEFA, European football’s governing body, threatened to boycott the World Cup and other FIFA competitions if Infantino pressed ahead with his plan.
