Gianni Infantino’s standing suffered another setback after Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafström, his second-in-command, described the abandoned private investment proposal for the World Cup as a “regrettable and deeply troubling sequence of events”.
Further signs that senior figures within Fifa are distancing themselves from Infantino and the unsuccessful initiative emerged on Tuesday morning, when Arsène Wenger said cancelling the project was “entirely necessary and indisputable”. The former Arsenal manager, now Fifa’s head of global development, had previously made no public comment on the turmoil affecting international football.
Grafström and Wenger’s remarks came after Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino, resigned last week. They also followed strong criticism from Fifa chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, who claimed the organisation’s administration had been “misled” by its president.
Grafström addressed Fifa employees in an email reflecting on what he called an “unusual and demanding” week. Although he did not directly name or condemn Infantino, he pledged to protect staff from the instability engulfing the organisation.
While discussing the World Cup’s perceived success this summer, he wrote that the disturbing chain of events had ended with the permanent cancellation of the FFE [Fifa Forward Enterprise] project and should not be allowed to eclipse the tournament’s achievements.
He acknowledged that employees had been drawn into a confusing and difficult crisis, but urged them to concentrate on their shared purpose: supporting football and Fifa’s 211 member associations, cooperating with relevant stakeholders, and fully observing the organisation’s statutes and regulations.
Grafström also reassured administrative staff that they would be protected from the current political tensions and had no reason to fear for their positions.
He added that individuals, periods of instability and regrettable incidents eventually pass, while the institution, its duties and its obligations to global football remain. Staff, he said, should therefore preserve their professionalism, perspective and calm.
The unusually forceful intervention from Infantino’s deputy is likely to reinforce the impression that the president is increasingly isolated among the most senior members of his administration.
Wenger, who joined Fifa in November 2019, also confirmed that he was one of several senior officials excluded from Infantino’s proposal. He said he had played no role in developing the strategy and learned about it only through media coverage.
He said abandoning the initiative was unquestionably the correct decision, stressing his support for an independent Fifa that works for football with dedication, openness and integrity.
Pressure on Infantino’s leadership continues to intensify. Several European federations withdrew their backing for his re-election on Monday, and more are expected to do the same.
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