Arsene Wenger has publicly distanced himself from FIFA president Gianni Infantino's failed plan to sell a stake in the commercial rights of the World Cup, insisting the proposal had to be abandoned to protect the integrity and independence of world football's governing body.The former Arsenal manager, now FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, stressed he had no involvement in the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project and only learned about it through media reports.Infantino admits defeat, scraps the World Cup sale project"The decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question," Wenger said in a statement."I firmly believe in an independent FIFA that serves our game with commitment, transparency and integrity."Wenger also outlined his current responsibilities within FIFA, explaining that he oversees global football development, youth academies, coaching education, and technical projects, and serves as an adviser to the International Football Association Board (IFAB)."I was not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports," he added."I like his deep passion for football": Motsepe backs Infantino despite growing criticismHis intervention comes after Infantino was forced to abandon plans to sell a 20 per cent stake in FIFA Forward Enterprise to private investors following fierce opposition from across world football.UEFA led the resistance, with the European governing body reportedly warning it was prepared to boycott the FIFA World Cup and other FIFA competitions if the proposal went ahead. Several national associations also withdrew their support for Infantino, including the Football Association of Wales, while England's Football Association is understood to have formally changed its position.BREAKING: UEFA votes to boycott FIFA World Cup over Infantino's controversial planUEFA later welcomed FIFA's decision to scrap the project but admitted it had "lost confidence" in Infantino over the episode.The backlash also extended to clubs. Members of the European Football Clubs (EFC) group reportedly contacted FIFA directly because the proposed venture would have included future Club World Cups and could have affected previously agreed commercial plans for the competition.##NAJAVA_MECA_9879109##Wenger's carefully worded statement stops short of directly criticising Infantino personally or following senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro in leaving FIFA. However, it represents another significant blow for the FIFA president after chief operating officer Kevin Lamour claimed last week that staff inside football's governing body had been "deceived" over the project.
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