Geneva: FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing unprecedented internal rebellion after two of his top executives—Chief of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger and Secretary General Mattias Grafström—publicly separated themselves from his collapsed $20 billion scheme to sell future World Cup profit stakes to private equity investors.

Wenger clarified that he was kept completely in the dark regarding the $20 billion proposal, emphasizing that dropping it was "absolutely necessary." Meanwhile, Grafström issued a direct email to FIFA staff describing the controversy as a "sad and reproachable series of events" that caused "turmoil which is difficult to comprehend and accept."

Neither official mentioned Infantino by name or offered any defense for the embattled president. Reports from British media indicate Infantino called a crisis meeting with key staff in Morocco on Wednesday.

Internal Backlash & Legal Pressure

The rebuffs from Wenger and Grafström build on scathing remarks made by FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour, who stated that staff had been "deceived" by the private equity deal. Lamour labeled the push the "project of one person" and asserted that FIFA personnel "deserve better than contempt and intimidation."

All three high-ranking officials were listed in a formal letter sent by UEFA’s legal team demanding that Infantino preserve data and communications across 18 executives as potential evidence.

Addressing staff across Zurich and Florida, Grafström offered assurances:
"You do not need to worry," Grafström wrote. "I assure you that you as members of the administration, you will be defended and safeguarded from the political context we currently experience."
The Scrapped $20 Billion Deal

Infantino’s plan called for creating a subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to take over the commercial rights of global soccer's governing body—including World Cup hosting, broadcasting, sponsorships, and ticketing.

  • Investment Structure: The plan sought to raise $4.2 billion by selling a 20% equity stake in FFE, valuing the entity at $20 billion.

  • Lead Investor: The primary investor was set to be Thrive Eternal, headed by Joshua Kushner.

  • Member Payouts: FIFA's 211 member associations were promised $20 million each, alongside a commitment to double four-year funding through 2030 to $20 million.

The proposal sparked fierce opposition—including UEFA threatening a complete boycott of all FIFA events—forcing Infantino to abandon the scheme.
"I was not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports," said Arsène Wenger. "The 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."

Preserving Post-World Cup Morale

The fallout comes just weeks after the conclusion of the 48-team 2026 World Cup in North America, which generated $15 billion for FIFA’s 2023–2026 commercial cycle.

Grafström urged employees to remain "all continue being proud and happy" with the tournament's execution:
"A sad and reproachable series of events - which were thankfully concluded with the FFE project permanently abandoned - for as much as we feel dismayed by them, should not overshadow this reality," Grafström noted in his memo.
"We 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. I 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."

Accusations of "Blackmail" and Political Fallout

Infantino’s stance deteriorated further after former FIFA Vice President Prince Ali bin Al Hussein accused leadership of withholding tournament prize money owed to the Jordan national team as a form of blackmail to secure presidential endorsement letters.

Additionally, despite the 2026 tournament's on-field success, it was shadowed by political friction—including U.S. travel restrictions on Iran's squad, entry denial for a FIFA-selected Somali referee, and controversy surrounding FIFA's ties to Donald Trump.

Infantino has maintained public silence since the announcement of the plan's cancellation. With FIFA setting a November 18 deadline for candidates to enter the upcoming presidential election, opposition forces led by UEFA are actively looking for a challenger ahead of the vote in Morocco. (AP)