Football: Wenger reportedly drops FIFA presidency bid
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Business Day Nigeria
Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s director of global football development, has reportedly given up on challenging Gianni Infantino, just days before candidacies close. According to BBC Sport, the Frenchman, appointed by Infantino, thus leaves the latter better placed for the 18 March election in Morocco.
Arsène Wenger, a former Arsenal manager who has become FIFA’s director of global football development, has reportedly given up on challenging Gianni Infantino for the presidency of the body, according to BBC Sport. The 77-year-old Frenchman, appointed to his post by Infantino, was in a position to rally those seeking an alternative to the incumbent president.
The election is due to take place on 18 March in Morocco, and the deadline for submitting candidacies falls on Wednesday. UEFA, which leads the opposition to Infantino, was ready to back Wenger had he stood, and still hopes to find another candidate.
Infantino has been criticised since a controversy over a plan to sell commercial stakes in the World Cup to private investors, which provoked opposition from football stakeholders. A figure in this opposition called the decision “really a shame”, judging that Wenger, “even if imperfect”, could have mobilised many stakeholders, according to BBC Sport.
This withdrawal closes a possibility raised on 10 November, when Wenger was still considering challenging Gianni Infantino. On 12 November, Infantino was accused of employing a cleaner without legal authorisation.
