{"id":27564,"date":"2026-08-04T17:54:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T12:54:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=27564"},"modified":"2026-08-04T17:54:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T12:54:09","slug":"top-fifa-officials-distance-themselves-from-infantinos-world-cup-sell-off-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=27564","title":{"rendered":"Top FIFA officials distance themselves from Infantino&#8217;s World Cup sell-off plan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"prism-article-body\">\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao MvWXB TjIXL aGjvy ebVHC \"><span class=\"oyrPY qlwaB AGxeB  \">GENEVA &#8212; <\/span>Two senior FIFA executives \u2014 coaching great Ars\u00e8ne Wenger and CEO-like secretary general Mattias Grafstr\u00f6m \u2014 distanced themselves Tuesday from their boss <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/world-cup-fifa-infantino-investors-10160e494eebf37301201b9175ec836d\">Gianni Infantino\u2019s failed plan<\/a> to sell stakes in future World Cup profits to private investors. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Wenger said in a statement he knew nothing of the $20 billion plan and that it was \u201cabsolutely necessary\u201d to drop the proposal, and Grafstr\u00f6m sent an email to all FIFA staff \u2014 seen by The Associated Press \u2014 calling the last week a \u201csad and reproachable series of events.\u201d He also said it created \u201cturmoil which is difficult to comprehend and accept.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Neither directly named Infantino or offered support for the now-embattled president. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The comments by Wenger and Grafstr\u00f6m had echoes of the direct criticism from FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/cordeiro-infantino-fifa-executive-world-cup-4cff20f6e2dda925e6d5395b56dcf9ab\">who said Friday<\/a> that staff had been \u201cdeceived\u201d by Infantino&#8217;s private equity plan, which provoked a furor in global soccer. Lamour called it the &#8220;project of one person\u201d and said FIFA staff \u201cdeserve better than contempt and intimidation.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The three executives are respected and trusted figures among the 211 FIFA member federations who now hold sway over Infantino&#8217;s grip on a presidency that looked unshakeable after the World Cup ended barely two weeks ago.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Wenger, Grafstr\u00f6m and Lamour also were named in a <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/world-cup-fifa-infantino-uefa-legal-de560598ef25affea0267dd568f7c431\">letter from UEFA\u2019s lawyers to Infantino<\/a> among 18 executives whose data and communications should be retained as potential evidence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cYou do not need to worry,\u201d Grafstr\u00f6m wrote Tuesday to the hundreds of FIFA staff based mostly in Zurich and Coral Gables, Florida. \u201cI assure you that you as members of the administration, you will be defended and safeguarded from the political context we currently experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Wenger, who was hired by Infantino in 2019 and is FIFA\u2019s Chief of Global Football Development, said he was \u201cnot involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Infantino withdrew his $20 billion proposal early Saturday after a furious backlash by global soccer officials, including European body UEFA warning of a boycott of all FIFA games and events.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The plan would have created a subsidiary \u2014 known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) \u2014 to run the money-making parts of the not-for-profit soccer body\u2019s work: organizing tournaments like the World Cup, selling broadcasting and sponsorship rights, tickets and hospitality.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">It proposed raising $4.2 billion from investors by selling stakes amounting to about 20% in FFE, based on an equity valuation of $20 billion. The \u201canchor investor\u201d would have been Thrive Eternal, launched by Joshua Kushner, whose brother <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/albania-kushner-trump-development-protest-tourism-sazan-8d7d0e216c28d23fe1b2e51cbb05b926\">Jared Kushner<\/a> is a son-in-law of <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/donald-trump\">U.S. President Donald Trump<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cThe decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question, because I firmly believe in an independent FIFA that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity,\u201d Wenger wrote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">FIFA\u2019s 211 member federations \u2014 already effective owners of the governing body as a nonprofit association under Swiss law \u2014 were offered $20 million each. The deadline to accept was Sept. 19.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">They also were promised a doubling of their FIFA funding for the four years through 2030 to $20 million instead of the previously announced $10 million.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Infantino shared details of the project to FIFA management just one week after the July 19 final of the financially successful World Cup in North America that drove FIFA&#8217;s revenues to $15 billion for the 2023-26 commercial cycle \u2014 almost double the income tied to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Grafstr\u00f6m, a long-time loyal aide to Infantino since their work together at UEFA, urged FIFA staff to \u201call continue being proud and happy\u201d about the first 48-team World Cup.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cA sad and reproachable series of events \u2014 which were thankfully concluded with the FFE project permanently abandoned \u2014 for as much as we feel dismayed by them, should not overshadow this reality,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico was judged a success on the field, though it had unprecedented issues linked to Infantino&#8217;s close ally Trump, who received a specially created FIFA Peace Prize at the tournament draw in December. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">During the tournament, Iran&#8217;s team could not stay in the U.S. where it played three games, a Somali referee picked by FIFA was refused entry, and U.S. forward Folarin Balogun was allowed to play against Belgium despite a red card in his previous game.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cWe have all been thrown into the middle of a turmoil, which is difficult to comprehend and accept, but, as secretary general, I urge you to remain focused on what has always united us,\u201d Grafstr\u00f6m wrote. \u201cI will continue to support our teams, our work and our mission every hour of every day for as long as my work is valued by those we serve.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Infantino has not commented in public on the schism in soccer since a <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/inside.fifa.com\/organisation\/media-releases\/statement-attributable-president\">FIFA statement<\/a> early Saturday announcing that the proposal had been dropped. His <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/stories\/gianni_infantino\/3955657834504636317\/?hl=en\">official Instagram account<\/a> has posted letters of support from several member federations, including 2030 World Cup co-host Morocco, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Infantino has been president of FIFA for more than 10 years and had seemed sure to be re-elected unopposed next March in Morocco. FIFA has set a Nov. 18 deadline for challengers to come forward, with Sweden&#8217;s soccer leader saying Monday that UEFA is seeking a rival candidate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">___<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC eTIW sUzSN \">AP soccer: <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/soccer\">https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/soccer<\/a> and <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/fifa-world-cup\">AP World Cup coverage<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>GENEVA &#8212; Two senior FIFA executives \u2014 coaching great Ars\u00e8ne Wenger and CEO-like secretary general Mattias Grafstr\u00f6m \u2014 distanced themselves Tuesday from their boss Gianni Infantino\u2019s failed plan to sell stakes in future World Cup profits to private investors. Wenger said in a statement he knew nothing of the $20 billion plan and that it&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27565,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/3ea4330c-3f73-4405-ba22-4ec976a644f1\/wirestory_7a553620217d2b1299b0c8bea8b800cd_16x9.jpg?w=1600","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27564","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abc-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27564","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=27564"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27564\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/27565"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=27564"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=27564"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=27564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}