Arsene Wenger releases statement on Gianni Infantino’s World Cup plan amid backlash over ex-Arsenal boss’ silence

Arsene Wenger has issued a statement in response to Gianni Infantino’s failed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal.

The former Arsenal manager had faced criticism for failing to speak out against the doomed plans to sell private equity in FIFA events.

Getty

Wenger has held a role within FIFA since 2019 as their chief of global football development.

However, he previously had not responded to Infantino’s controversial plans, which have left his presidency under threat.

The likes of UEFA and CONCACAF condemned the scheme, while the FA and Welsh FA have withdrawn their support for his re-election bid.

Wenger has now explained his stance and denied any involvement in the proposals.

Wenger statement

In a statement, he said: “The recent events at FIFA deserve some clarity from my side.

“At FIFA, I am the Chief of Global Football Development. 

“Together with my team, I oversee the data analysis of the game, the FIFA online training centre, the development of youth education through 60 academies across 60 countries where they are most needed, and youth competitions around the world.

“In addition, I am a technical adviser to IFAB.

“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’s FIFA role

Having left his role as Arsenal manager in the summer of 2018, Wenger began working with FIFA the following year.

The 76-year-old has since served as the governing body’s inaugural chief of global football development.

Wenger also advises the International Football Association Board (IFAB) on law changes which have been mandated by FIFA.

IFAB are responsible for managing the laws of the game, although FIFA holds 50 per cent of the voting power for any proposed changes.

As part of his roles, Wenger previously proposed a new offside rule which would see the introduction of ‘daylight’ between players for a decision to be made.

The rule revamp has been trialled by the Canadian Premier League this year.

This is a developing story and is being updated.

For the latest updates, breaking news alerts, and comprehensive analysis, refresh this page or follow our real-time news coverage by watching and listening to talkSPORT live.

For broader context, explore related coverage on our homepage for the top trending stories. For the latest talkSPORT videos, download the app.

talkSPORT cares about getting it right, not just getting it first and because this is a developing situation, details will change. We will be updating this page constantly with verified info, expert takes, and official statements.

Stay tuned for further developments as this story continues to break.