Arsène Wenger has publicly dismissed FIFA’s plan to sell a minority stake in the commercial rights to the World Cup to private equity, describing the proposal as fundamentally flawed.
The intervention by the former Arsenal manager and FIFA ambassador adds high-profile weight to the growing opposition against President Gianni Infantino’s commercial strategy.
The criticism comes as FIFA has officially abandoned the stake sale, marking a significant reversal for the governing body.
The decision follows intense pushback from within the organization, including allegations from a senior FIFA executive who accused Infantino of misleading staff regarding the transaction.
The internal dissent has escalated into a broader leadership crisis, with senior figures reportedly deserting the president’s camp.
For investors monitoring the sports and media sector, the collapse of the private equity deal signals a reset in FIFA’s commercial trajectory.