Internal FIFA voices distance themselves from Infantino over failed World Cup plan

Senior FIFA officials have distanced themselves from President Gianni Infantino following the collapse of his plan to sell stakes in future World Cup profits to private investors, intensifying pressure on his bid for re-election.

Arsène Wenger, FIFA's chief of global soccer development since 2019, issued a statement on Tuesday saying the withdrawal of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal was "absolutely necessary and beyond question." Wenger stated he was not aware of the investment plan beforehand.

FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström, second in rank only to Infantino, described the scrapped FFE plans as a "sad and reproachable series of events" in a letter to FIFA staff. Grafström wrote that "individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go" as the organization navigates the crisis.

The FFE proposal would have created a new subsidiary to manage FIFA's commercial operations and competitions, including the World Cup. Infantino had sought to raise $4.2 billion by selling 20 percent of the company to private investors, with the FFE valued at $20 billion. The plan offered each FIFA member federation $20 million, double what they were scheduled to receive over the following four years, with a deadline of September 19 for acceptance.

The proposal faced immediate rejection. No federation publicly endorsed it upon announcement, with most either rejecting it outright or maintaining neutral positions. The plan was criticized as lacking prior consultation with member associations.

UEFA, European football's governing body, sent a formal preservation letter to FIFA on Friday, confirming it is "actively considering legal action," arbitration or regulatory complaints related to the FFE proposal. The letter, dated Friday and reviewed by the Associated Press, instructed FIFA officials to preserve documents, data and electronic communications that could become evidence in possible legal proceedings. The preservation notice named 18 FIFA executives, including Infantino, chief financial officer Thomas Peyer and Wenger.

European nations have begun withdrawing support for Infantino's re-election. Finland became the first of FIFA's 211 member associations to publicly withdraw its letter of endorsement last Thursday. England, Wales, Serbia and Sweden have since followed or indicated their intention to do so. England is expected to make a formal public announcement of withdrawal.

Concacaf, the confederation representing 41 members from North America, Central America and the Caribbean, is also reconsidering its position. All 41 Concacaf members submitted letters of endorsement for Infantino's re-election before the World Cup, but many are now considering withdrawing them. According to reports, the matter was discussed in an emergency meeting held on Friday, with several federations expressing intent to remove their backing.

Five influential African football leaders have issued statements of support for Infantino despite welcoming the decision to drop the FFE plan, according to reports ahead of a Confederation of African Football executive committee meeting.

FIFA denied reports that Infantino had contacted U.S. President Donald Trump seeking assistance following the controversy. "The president of FIFA has not made any call to the president of the United States, nor to any member of his administration, in recent days. It is pure fiction," FIFA stated in response to media reports.