Two senior FIFA executives made clear they were not part of President Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in future World Cup profits to private investors. Arsène Wenger, a respected figure in football, stated he was unaware of the $20 billion proposal. Mattias Grafström communicated to FIFA staff via email that the recent events were disappointing and hard to accept.
Neither Wenger nor Grafström explicitly supported Infantino, reflecting sentiments similar to FIFA COO Kevin Lamour. Lamour criticized Infantino’s plan, calling it a personal project and expressing that FIFA staff deserve better treatment.
The influence of these executives among FIFA’s 211 member federations could impact Infantino’s presidency, which appeared strong following the recent World Cup.
UEFA legal threat to FIFA
Wenger and Grafström were among 18 executives mentioned by UEFA’s lawyers demanding retention of their data and communications for potential evidence. Grafström assured FIFA staff they would be defended from the ongoing political conflict.
Hired by Infantino in 2019, Wenger emphasized he was not part of the strategic plan, learning about the project through media.
Infantino withdrew his proposal after backlash from global soccer officials, including UEFA’s warning of a FIFA boycott. The plan involved creating FIFA Forward Enterprise to handle profit-driven aspects such as tournament organization and rights sales.
FIFA member federations, which own the governing body, were offered $20 million each and promised increased funding through 2030.
Grafström encouraged staff pride regarding the first 48-team World Cup despite recent incidents, asserting that the FFE project’s permanent abandonment should not overshadow this achievement.
Infantino’s ties to Trump
The World Cup in North America was deemed successful. However, issues arose due to Infantino’s association with Trump, who received a FIFA Peace Prize during the tournament draw. Challenges included Iran’s team accommodation and a Somali referee’s denied entry.
Grafström urged staff to remain focused and committed amidst the turmoil, vowing to support their efforts as long as his role is appreciated.
Infantino has yet to publicly address the divide in FIFA since the proposal was dropped. His Instagram has shared support from federations like Morocco, Qatar, and the UAE.
Having served as FIFA president for over a decade, Infantino was expected to run unopposed in the upcoming election. Yet, UEFA is now exploring alternative candidates.