Arsene Wenger’s role in Gianni Infantino’s FIFA inner circle questioned

Arsene Wenger has been criticised for his support of Gianni Infantino as the FIFA president faces a growing backlash over controversial plans to reshape international football.

The former Arsenal manager, once celebrated as a visionary who helped transform the English game, is now portrayed by Daily Mail journalist Chris Wheeler as one of Infantino’s most prominent allies. Wheeler argues that the Frenchman has “destroyed his own legacy” by standing behind the FIFA president.

Wenger praised Infantino in February to mark 10 years of his presidency, saying: “Gianni is always ready to move forward and create new ideas. He is open to new ideas.”

Wheeler used those comments as the starting point for a wider criticism of several of Infantino’s proposals and decisions during his time leading FIFA.

Among them are the decision to stage the 2022 World Cup in Qatar during the Christmas period, the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams for the 2026 tournament and the suggestion that the competition could eventually feature 64 nations in 2030.

Infantino has also backed mandatory hydration breaks during World Cup matches and awarded United States president Donald Trump a FIFA Peace Prize. Those moves, along with other positions taken by the FIFA president, have prompted political and sporting controversy.

The most serious issue raised by Wheeler concerns a proposal to open the commercial value of FIFA competitions to private investors. The potential deal is reportedly worth £3.1bn and has triggered an international dispute, including a threat from UEFA to boycott FIFA competitions.

Wenger, 76, currently serves as FIFA’s chief of global football development and is regarded as part of Infantino’s inner circle. Wheeler suggests the former Arsenal manager may have been aware of the disputed commercial project and could even have helped to devise it because of his close relationship with the FIFA president.

The article acknowledges that Wenger continues to lead projects seen as beneficial to the sport. He is in charge of FIFA’s £160m talent development programme, which is aimed at countries without established professional pathways for young players.

He also chairs a taskforce focused on player welfare, despite having proposed that the World Cup should be held every two years.

However, Wheeler argues that the man once viewed as a transformative thinker in English football is no longer using his influence to challenge what the article describes as Infantino’s self-interest. The journalist points to Wenger’s praise for the success of the 48-team World Cup format, although the Frenchman accepted that hydration breaks had not been welcomed by everyone.

The article also questions Wenger’s position on the proposal critics have described as the “sale” of the World Cup. Infantino has offered member associations £30m if they approve the plan by 19 September, at a time when opposition is growing and UEFA has threatened a boycott.

FIFA attempted to calm the dispute with a statement saying: “No one is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever accept.”

Wheeler remains unconvinced, arguing that Infantino has been exposed to the world and that Wenger, rather than confronting him, is “standing firmly behind him”.

The veteran manager is described by Wheeler as a “silent follower walking behind his master Gianni Infantino”, while the journalist questions whether the former Arsenal boss might be the “real mastermind behind FIFA’s foolish schemes”.