Kathmandu— Two senior FIFA officials, former football coach Arsène Wenger and Secretary General Mattias Grafström, have distanced themselves from President Gianni Infantino’s controversial plan to sell stakes in future World Cup profits to private investors. The executives criticized the proposal as a 'sad and reproachable series of events' that created turmoil within the organization.

Criticism From FIFA Executives

Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, stated in a press release that he was unaware of Infantino's $20 billion plan and called its withdrawal 'absolutely necessary.' Grafström echoed similar sentiments in an email to all FIFA staff, describing the recent events as difficult to comprehend and accept. Both executives avoided directly naming Infantino but expressed their disapproval of his actions.

UEFA's Legal Threat

The criticism from Wenger and Grafström comes amid a legal threat issued by UEFA’s lawyers, who named 18 FIFA executives as potential evidence in a case against Infantino. This move further complicates the already tense situation within FIFA. Grafström assured staff that they would be defended and safeguarded from the political context of these events.

Infantino's Response

Despite mounting pressure, Gianni Infantino has not publicly addressed the controversy since announcing the withdrawal of his proposal on Saturday. His Instagram account has posted supportive messages from several member federations, including Morocco and Qatar, but no official statement has been made regarding the future direction of FIFA.

With a Nov. 18 deadline for potential challengers to come forward, the fate of Infantino's presidency remains uncertain as FIFA navigates through this period of turmoil.

(With inputs from AP)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.