
PARIS (FRANCE) (ITALPRESS) – Arsène Wenger may step back and abandon a potential bid for the FIFA presidency. According to a report by ‘L’Équipe’, the current Chief of Global Football Development is unlikely to stand in the election scheduled for March 18 in Rabat, Morocco—an event where Gianni Infantino is seeking a new term.
The former Arsenal manager, long considered a potential primary challenger to the incumbent president, had openly expressed his dissent regarding FIFA’s management, specifically criticizing the proposal to commercialize stakes in the World Cup. While he had seriously considered running, concerns over the challenges of an electoral campaign—as well as the distance such a role would place him from the pitch—ultimately appear to have prevailed.
Should he withdraw, it would pose a setback for Infantino’s opponents, who viewed Wenger as a credible, internationally respected candidate with established ties to the 211 member federations. UEFA has nonetheless reaffirmed its intention to support an alternative to the incumbent president. Time, however, is running short: the deadline for submitting candidacies is November 18.
Remaining in the running are Ramón Vega—a 55-year-old former Swiss player who featured for Cagliari, Tottenham, and Celtic—and Kozo Tashima, honorary president of the Japan Football Association.
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(ITALPRESS).
Source: medNews