KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTS: Arsene Wenger has broken his silence to line up as another opponent of FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s $20bn scheme to commercialise World Cup rights.

Wenger, the former Arsenal manager who is head of FIFA’s global development operation, has followed chief operating officer Kevin Lamour in the internal rebellion.

He said, in a statement: “The recent events at FIFA deserve some clarity from my side. I was not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports.”

It was a devastating distance to put between himself and the president. Wenger didn’t stop at merely pleading ignorance; he explicitly validated the fierce global pushback that had forced Infantino into a humiliating retreat.

Wenger added: “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.”

###