Arsene Wenger called out for silence as Gianni Infantino scraps FIFA’s toxic FFE scheme

Arsene Wenger has been questioned for failing to speak out on Gianni Infantino’s failed FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal.

FIFA president Infantino had planned to sell off stakes in the world football governing body’s competitions to private investors but scrapped the idea in the early hours of Saturday morning amid widespread outrage.

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Multiple continental federations vehemently rejected the project – with UEFA announcing they would boycott future World Cups if it went ahead.

Infantino has also seen his inner circle begin to crumble: senior advisor Carols Codeiro resigned on Friday, releasing a strongly worded statement opposing the FFE plans.

But one person who has so far stayed silent on the matter is FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, legendary former Arsenal boss Wenger – much to the surprise of talkSPORT’s Tony Cascarino.

Joining Shebahn Aherne on the Weekend Sports Breakfast, the former Chelsea and Republic of Ireland striker said: “The one thing that’s really surprised me is Arsene Wenger, who’s got a real pivotal role within FIFA and he’s obviously been an incredible manager.

“Nothing at all from Arsene Wenger and you’d have felt that he would have [something to say].

“But… the way he’s always managed and you always felt he loves the game so much, and what he achieved as a club manager and his role at FIFA – and Arsene’s been very, very quiet.

“And it’s hard to know exactly where he stands as well – because he’ll get questioned, Arsene Wenger.”

Aherne suggested Wenger might speak out now Infantino has shelved the highly controversial proposal.

“We don’t even know if he might have been against him,” Cascarino continued.

“There’s certain people… behind the scenes [at FIFA] that have gone, ‘Absolutely not, this is not a good idea for football’… selling off the game privately and look, the game makes a lot of money anyway.”

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Infantino’s own position in charge of FIFA is bound to come under increased pressure in light of this categorical failure.

And UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called Infantino ‘the wrong man’ for the job.

Burnham, who was critical of the FFE plans from the outset, told reporters on Friday: “My view is strengthening – this was an outrageous suggestion.

“The idea that it could even be brought forward shows that, in my view, [Infantino] is the wrong man to lead the organisation.

“Let me say this very directly: football does not belong to investors. It belongs to the people who fill the stands and who stand on the touchline week in, week out, rain or shine.

“The World Cup is not a product; it is the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone’s to sell. Dress the deal up however you like; once you have sold a piece of it, you have sold out.

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“Football belongs to the fans. It always has, and it always will.”

What did Infantino say?

The FIFA president still attempted to defend the project as he climbed down from it in the early hours of Saturday morning.

His statement read: “The FIFA Forward Enterprise project was intended to provide a basis for further strengthening our FIFA Member Associations and our sport worldwide, especially in those countries where support is most needed.

“And more so, as we said from the outset, to do this only if a majority of the FIFA Member Associations were in support and always subject to a consultation process with them, the FIFA Council, the Confederations and wider stakeholders.

“Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place. Our purpose has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve.

“As a result, this proposal will not proceed. Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support.”