FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger, has distanced himself from FIFA’s proposed commercial arm valued at $20 billion, which will manage revenue-generating activities linked to the World Cup and other major competitions.

Under the proposal, FIFA intends to sell up to a 20% minority stake in the new entity to private investors, targeting $4.2 billion in funding. The investor group is expected to be led by Thrive Capital, founded by Joshua Kushner.

The plan, which sought to raise US$4 billion through the sale to an investment group led by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, sparked widespread opposition before FIFA withdrew it.

Although the proposal was abandoned, it has damaged Infantino’s standing ahead of the 2027 FIFA presidential election. Football associations in Wales, Sweden, and Serbia have since withdrawn their support for his expected re-election bid.

In a statement released on Tuesday, August 4, Wenger distanced himself from the proposal, saying he played no role in its development.

“The recent events at FIFA deserve some clarity from my side. At FIFA, I am the Chief of Global Football Development. In addition, I am a technical adviser to IFAB. I was not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports.

“The decision to withdraw the project was necessary and beyond question, because I firmly believe in an independent FIFA that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity”, a section of his statement read.

Why FIFA dropped the proposal

Responding to the reactions to the proposal in a formal statement, FIFA explained that its goal as a global football governing body has always been to unite all parties concerned with the sport; however, the proposal of the commercial arm has created disparities which it didn’t intend following deliberations with stakeholders whose approval would have been the only basis for the establishment of the FFE.

“And more so, as we said from the outset, to do this only if a majority of the FIFA Member Associations were in support and always subject to a consultation process with them, the FIFA Council, the Confederations and wider stakeholders”, parts of the statement said.

Consequently, “…this proposal will not proceed”.

It continued that “Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.Our purpose has always been - and will always be - to unite and improve”.

Mr Infantino said he would engage interested parties in the coming days and weeks to rebuild consensus and continue efforts to grow football worldwide, especially in countries that require greater support.

“My intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support,” he said.