Wenger Also Criticized Amidst Infantino Controversy

Former Republic of Ireland international Tony Cascarino expressed his "great surprise" in an interview with talkSPORT that French legend Arsène Wenger has yet to comment on the future of Gianni Infantino as FIFA president and the controversial idea of creating FIFA Forward Enterprise – a project to transfer World Cup stakes to private investors.

Wenger, a historic figure for Arsenal and English football as a whole, currently heads FIFA's Global Football Development division. Appearing on today's edition of "The Weekend Sports Breakfast," the former Chelsea and Ireland striker said: "The only thing that really surprised me is Wenger, who has a really key role at FIFA and is obviously an incredible manager. Absolutely nothing from Wenger, and you'd think he'd have something to say. But... the way he's always handled himself, and we've always felt he loves the game very much, and what he's achieved as a club manager, and his role at FIFA – Arsène is very, very quiet. And it's hard to know exactly where he stands – because Wenger will be questioned by people when he appears in public."

Host Seebahn Ahearn suggested that Wenger might still speak out once Infantino's idea is withdrawn and no longer on the agenda. "We don't even know if he was against it. There are certain people... behind the scenes at FIFA who say: 'Absolutely not, this is not a good idea for football'... but ultimately, whatever they say, ... they're selling the game secretly, and look, football makes a lot of money anyway, why should we be against it?" Cascarino continued.

According to the now-pressured FIFA president, the FIFA Forward Enterprise project aimed "to provide a basis for further strengthening FIFA's poorer member associations and football, especially in those countries where support is most needed." To achieve this, Infantino wanted to sell minority stakes to private investors in a planned company that would manage its commercial rights and tournament activities – primarily the World Cup.

UEFA and CONCACAF, much more sharply, and the AFC, somewhat more mildly, condemned and opposed this plan, united by the idea that "football does not belong to one person, and the global federations are only guardians of the game, not owners."