I find it odd that Arsene Wenger has been sucked into the controversy caused by FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to sell off stakes in its competitions to private investors.
The former Arsenal boss has a pivotal role in FIFA but not one where he has the power to challenge the president of the organisation.
I think it’s safe to say that as an advocate of the game and someone who appreciates its purity he would have been privately against it.
It’s been asked why he didn’t stand up and oppose the stake suggestion on social media platform.
The answer to that is simple, he didn’t need to, that was down to UEFA and its members.
His opinion or intervention would have added fuel to an already blazing fire and would have caused confusion and conflict within the organisation and perhaps he was expecting the proposal to be met with the inevitable resistance
it received.
One man’s voice, even though he is a respected global football figure, doesn’t carry the same weight as UEFA bought to the proceedings which single-handedly derailed the plan instantly.
In fact Wenger could be the perfect replacement for Infantino in the long run and is best placed outside the argument to remain in a position where he could potentially replace him.
Of course thats unlikely because it seems to require a certain individual who wants to feather their own nest and promote their own profile.
Wenger is not that character.
The credibility of football has taken a massive hit in recent years with FIFA’s tarnished reputation through the likes of Blatter and now Infantino.
Blatter you may recall was immersed in rumours of corruption and financial mismanagement and he remains in the wilderness until 2027 as part of a suspension even though the charges against him were conveniently dropped.
The stench of bribery and money laundering over many years finally ended his reign and FIFA were hoping their next appointment might shade them from the limelight but Infantino’s leadership has plunged them deeper in the trough.
You have to question the whole World Cup fiasco over which Infantino presided, which was an undeniable financial success but on a football level it failed massively with so many inconsistencies.
Infantino’s relationship with Trump was of sycophantic proportions and was showcased by a special peace prize, which was laughable and made everyone inside and outside the game feel nauseous and uncomfortable.
Wenger probably made the decision to hold tight and let the proposal roll out and he’s perfectly right to do so.
Any involvement on his behalf would have caused a tsunami in the World of football and placed him in the centre of a controversy not of his own making.
Wenger is the type of person FIFA need, respected, honest and devoted to the game and it’s integrity, not a Swiss Del Boy hell bent on flogging football to the highest bidder from the back of a van.
Infantino is on borrowed time and is likely to go before he gets to the re election stage but in all honesty he should have gone before the World Cup.
His involvement has simply plunged FIFA further in the mire and what little credibility it had has gone.
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