Two prominent FIFA officials, Arsène Wenger and Mattias Grafström, have publicly distanced themselves from Gianni Infantino's controversial proposal to sell stakes in future World Cup profits to private investors. This statement comes after Infantino's plan faced significant backlash from the global soccer community.

Wenger and Grafström's Statements

In a statement, Wenger, who serves as FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, expressed his lack of knowledge regarding the $20 billion plan, emphasizing the necessity of abandoning the proposal. Grafström, FIFA's secretary general, communicated via email to all FIFA staff, describing the recent events as a "sad and reproachable series of events" that have caused "turmoil which is difficult to comprehend and accept." Notably, neither official mentioned Infantino by name or offered support for him amidst the growing criticism.

Concerns from FIFA Staff

The sentiments expressed by Wenger and Grafström echo those of FIFA's chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, who criticized Infantino's private equity plan, stating that staff had been "deceived." Lamour characterized the initiative as the "project of one person" and asserted that FIFA staff deserve better than "contempt and intimidation." The three executives are regarded as respected figures within FIFA, holding significant influence among the 211 member federations that now question Infantino's leadership.

Infantino's $20 billion proposal was withdrawn following a fierce reaction from soccer officials worldwide, including threats from UEFA of boycotting FIFA events. The plan aimed to establish a subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to manage the financial aspects of FIFA's operations, including tournament organization and rights sales. However, the backlash has led to a reevaluation of the proposal and raised questions about the future direction of FIFA.