Two senior FIFA officials have publicly distanced themselves from a controversial proposal by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to sell stakes in future World Cup revenues to private investors, a plan that has ignited significant backlash within the global football community.

Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development and the former Arsenal manager, stated that he was unaware of the $20 billion plan prior to media reports and emphasized that the decision to withdraw the proposal was “absolutely necessary and beyond question.” In a statement, Wenger underscored his commitment to an independent FIFA that serves the sport with “commitment, transparency, and integrity.” He acknowledged shortcomings in stakeholder communication surrounding the initiative and expressed support for the FIFA Council’s recent move to maintain the existing budget model while opening broader consultations with football’s stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Mattias Grafström, FIFA Secretary General and one of the organization’s highest-ranking executives, sent an internal message characterizing the past week’s developments as a “sad and reproachable series of events” that created “turmoil which is difficult to comprehend and accept.” Though he did not explicitly name Infantino, Grafström reassured FIFA staff they would be “defended and safeguarded from the political context” affecting the administration and urged continued focus on FIFA’s mission and teams. Both Wenger and Grafström have longstanding ties to Infantino, yet their statements signal clear unease with the abandoned plan.

The project, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), sought to establish a subsidiary to oversee FIFA’s commercial activities, including tournament organization, broadcasting, sponsorship rights, ticket sales, and hospitality. The proposal aimed to raise roughly $4.2 billion by selling approximately 20% equity, with U.S.-based private equity firm Thrive Eternal—founded by Joshua Kushner—named as a potential anchor investor. The plan sparked widespread condemnation, notably from UEFA, which threatened a boycott of FIFA events if the proposal proceeded.

Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour also publicly criticized the initiative, stating that FIFA staff had been “deceived” by what he called a “project of one person,” referring to Infantino, and voiced concerns over how the plan undermined staff morale. UEFA has lost confidence in Infantino’s leadership, and several European football associations, including those of England and Wales, have withdrawn support. Some clubs affiliated with the European Football Clubs group expressed concerns about how the FFE arrangement conflicted with existing plans for future Club World Cup competitions.

Despite growing opposition in Europe, the situation remains complex. The Asian Football Confederation issued a statement criticizing the FFE proposal and called for an “urgent review” of FIFA practices but did not formally withdraw support for Infantino. Notably, federations from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Morocco— who are also 2030 World Cup co-hosts—have publicly backed the FIFA president. Observers see Asia as a crucial region in determining Infantino’s political future within the organization.

Infantino, who has been FIFA president for over a decade and was widely expected to run unopposed for re-election next March in Morocco, has not made public statements since the plan’s withdrawal. However, reports indicate he has called a meeting with senior FIFA staff in Rabat amid the ongoing tensions. FIFA has set an internal deadline of November 18 for candidates challenging Infantino’s presidency to emerge.

The fallout from the FFE proposal has exposed significant divisions within FIFA’s leadership and membership, raising questions about governance, transparency, and the future direction of the world’s governing body for football.