Fifa's chief of global football development Arsene Wenger says scrapping the plan to have private investment in Fifa competitions was "absolutely necessary and beyond question". Gianni Infantino had planned to create a commercial subsidiary to run Fifa's main events, including its World Cups, with external investors able to buy stakes, but the proposal was withdrawn after days of controversy.
Infantino had offered Fifa's 211 member associations $40m (£30m) each if they backed the proposal. After Uefa's 55 nations threatened to boycott all Fifa tournaments, and after criticism from Prince Ali of Jordan and Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, Infantino was forced to abandon the plan. Wenger, who has held a role covering data analysis of the game, Fifa's online training and youth competitions since 2019, later said he was not involved in the project and first learned of it through media reports.
The former Arsenal manager had previously supported Infantino's proposal to stage the men's World Cup every two years. But a week after the investment plan was first revealed, the Frenchman issued a statement through Fifa demanding "transparency and integrity" from world football's governing body.
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.
Wenger is one of 18 Fifa officials named in a document preservation letter Uefa sent to Fifa threatening legal action. Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino's senior adviser on global strategy and governance, is the only Fifa official to resign over the scandal, saying the proposal was "a bad deal for football" and would "mortgage football's future".
How did Prince Ali respond?
Prince Ali of Jordan accused world football's governing body of withholding prize money earned from finishing runners-up at the Fifa Arab Cup in December. Before the World Cup final, Infantino said he had received more than 200 letters of support from the 211 member associations for his re-election, with Jordan among the few not to back him.
Prince Ali, writing on X,, external claimed prize money had not been paid and Fifa tried to use this to gain support for Infantino.
It is clear the problem really is with leadership,
For months, Fifa has been refusing to help us - until it was verbally communicated to me during the World Cup that if I endorsed Infantino it would go a long way to helping our FA out.
We pride ourselves in Jordan in upholding ethical values. We did not endorse him before and certainly will not now.
But the whole situation amounts to blackmail and we refuse to give in to that.
Prince Ali has twice run for the Fifa presidency. In 2015, he lost by 133 votes to 73 to Sepp Blatter, who resigned nine days later. In 2016, he finished third in the election in which Infantino became Fifa president. He also alleged in the social media post that Jordan supporters with tickets had been denied visas to enter the United States this summer to watch their debut World Cup appearance. Fifa has been approached for comment.
Why did Mattias Grafstrom call the week difficult?
Mattias Grafstrom joined the criticism of the plan, writing in an internal memo to staff that last week had been "difficult to comprehend and accept". Grafstrom is seen as a close ally of Infantino, becoming Fifa's chief of staff after the Swiss was elected president in 2016. The Swede was elevated to secretary general, one of the most powerful positions in Fifa, in 2024.
A sad and reproachable series of events - which were thankfully concluded with the project permanently abandoned - for as much as we feel dismayed by them, should not overshadow this reality,
We have all been thrown into the middle of a turmoil, which is difficult to comprehend and accept.
I urge you to remain focused on what has always united us: serving football and serving our 211 member associations, hand in hand with all relevant stakeholders and in full compliance with the Fifa statutes and Fifa regulations.
I assure you that you as members of the administration, you will be defended and safeguarded from the political context we currently experience. You do not need to worry.
Individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go. The institution, its mission and its responsibility towards world football continue, and that is why we should always keep our professionalism, sense of perspective and composure.
Gianni Infantino brought in Arsene Wenger as Fifa's chief of global football development in 2019. The episode has added to scrutiny of Fifa's leadership, with Uefa among those pressing for clarity over the abandoned investment proposal.
Key Facts
- Infantino planned a commercial subsidiary for Fifa events, including the World Cups, with private investors able to buy stakes.
- Fifa's 211 member associations were offered $40m (£30m) each if they backed the proposal.
- Uefa's 55 nations threatened to boycott all Fifa tournaments.
- Prince Ali of Jordan said the situation amounted to blackmail.
- Carlos Cordeiro was the only Fifa official to resign over the scandal.
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