Fifa Scraps Private Investment Plan for Competitions

Arsene Wenger, Fifa's chief of global football development, has stated that scrapping private investment in Fifa competitions was a necessary decision. The plan, which was proposed by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, aimed to create a commercial subsidiary to run main events, including World Cups, with external investors able to buy stakes.

The proposal had offered Fifa's 211 member associations $40m each if they backed the plan, but it faced criticism, including a threat from Uefa's 55 nations to boycott all Fifa tournaments. Following the backlash, Infantino was forced to withdraw the plan. Wenger, who was appointed to his role in 2019, had previously supported Infantino's proposal to play the men's World Cup every two years.

Wenger emphasized the importance of an independent Fifa that serves the game with commitment, transparency, and integrity. The decision to withdraw the project was made after Wenger demanded clarity and transparency from the governing body. The scrapped plan has led to the resignation of Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino's senior adviser on global strategy and governance, who stated that the proposal was a bad deal for football and would mortgage its future.