Arsene Wenger weighs Fifa run against Gianni Infantino

Arsene Wenger is considering a run against Gianni Infantino in the election for Fifa president, BBC Sport reported on Tuesday. The former Arsenal manager, now Fifa's chief of global football development, has not yet decided, but senior figures in European football have been urging him to stand.

The deadline for challengers to confirm their candidacy is November 18, with the vote due in March next year. Sources close to Wenger told the BBC that Infantino is still seen as the favourite to secure a fourth and final term.

Why Arsene Wenger is being urged to run

Infantino has come under heavy pressure following the collapse of his plan to sell commercial stakes in the World Cup to private investors, known as the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal. The idea was scrapped after a backlash, and Infantino later apologised to the Fifa Council, though he did not fully explain how the plan was put together and asked members to submit their questions in writing.

Uefa has led the opposition to Infantino and gave Fifa until November 2 to provide details on the scheme. Fifa has since said that key documents will be made available to council members, but only at its headquarters in Zurich and under strict conditions.

Wenger, who had traditionally been loyal to Infantino, publicly distanced himself from the plan. He said he had not been involved and only learned about it from the media, adding that withdrawing it was necessary for an independent Fifa run with transparency and integrity.

Strengths and doubts

According to BBC Sport, a Wenger candidacy would have several advantages:

• Backing from Uefa, the most vocal critic of the current leadership
• A global profile built over decades in management, including spells in France and Japan before his 22 years at Arsenal
• Goodwill in Africa, where he was seen as a champion of African players
• Support for the expanded 48-team World Cup, which has been welcomed in developing football nations

The main question is age. Wenger is 77, which raises doubts about whether he could lead the sport for a full four-year term. Some of his supporters told the BBC they would be comfortable with him winning and then stepping aside before his term ends.

He has also drawn criticism in his Fifa role for ideas such as holding the World Cup every two years and a so-called "daylight" offside rule.

Infantino's support base

Infantino retains strong backing in South America, Africa and Asia, and recently said he has the support of the "vast, vast majority" of world football. All 54 African member associations have endorsed him after he promised more funding, and he has also received backing from Asia.

Two challengers have already come forward. Former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega announced his bid in October, and Kozo Tashima, honorary president of the Japan Football Association, has also said he plans to stand. A move by Arsene Wenger would be the most serious test of Infantino's grip on the organisation so far.

What it means for fans in Asia

The election will shape decisions that matter to fans across Asia, from how World Cup revenue is shared to how development money reaches smaller football nations such as Thailand. Wenger's focus on development and youth coaching has been a key part of his Fifa work since he joined in 2019.

For Premier League followers in Phuket, the news comes during a turbulent spell in English football, including reports that Michael Carrick faces the Manchester United sack. Wenger's former club Arsenal recently claimed a notable 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield. Earlier, United fans enjoyed a comeback against Roma.

The original report was published by BBC Sport.

Image: Arsene Wenger on the red carpet at the 25th Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, April 2024. Photo by Barcex via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.