Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (L) and FIFA President Gianni Infantino applaud ahead of the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 quarter-final between Sweden and England at Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich, on July 17, 2025 . [Fabrice Coffrini/ AFP]
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said the decision to scrap FIFA president Gianni Infantino's controversial plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup was "absolutely necessary and beyond question".
Wenger works as FIFA's chief of global football development -- he was appointed in 2019 -- and the Frenchman became the latest high-profile figure to criticise Infantino's scheme on Tuesday.
Infantino wanted to sell a 20 per cent stake in the World Cup to private equity investors through his FIFA Forward Enterprise.
The plan sparked a barrage of criticism for Infantino and has been rejected by three continental confederations, forcing the Italian to ditch his divisive idea.