Wenger statement puts distance between himself and Infantino

Arsene Wenger has come under fire for standing by and allowing FIFA to “sell” the World Cup, which has forced the Arsenal icon to distance himself from the proposal.

Wenger has been working at FIFA since leaving his role as Arsenal manager in 2018 and appears to play an important role within the organisation. This meant many believed proposals of that nature would have passed through him and that he should have stopped them before they reached the public domain.

Wenger Clarifies His Position

However, that did not happen and FIFA president Gianni Infantino has come under serious pressure to resign following the controversial proposal. Other FIFA officials who did not step down and were perceived to have allowed or supported the proposal have also faced significant criticism in recent days.

Wenger has been among those criticised, but he has now explained his role within the organisation to make it clear that he was never involved in the proposal when it was drafted.

Former Arsenal Manager Issues Statement

He said, as reported by Give Me Sport:

“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 statement was intended to clarify his responsibilities within FIFA and distance himself from the proposal. He stressed that his work focuses on football development rather than strategic planning, while reaffirming his belief in an independent FIFA that operates with commitment, transparency, and integrity.