Wenger wanted as surprise challenger to Infantino for FIFA presidency
Senior figures in European football want Arsene Wenger to challenge Gianni Infantino for the presidency of FIFA.
The idea was reported by BBC Sport. It would create a surprise contest for the leadership of world football's governing body.
Infantino looks increasingly likely to be re-elected unopposed for a fourth and final term next year. He has been FIFA president since 2016, leading an organisation with 211 member associations who vote on its future.
Wenger is a familiar face to any football fan. He left Arsenal in 2018 after 22 years as manager and has worked as FIFA's head of global development since 2019.
That job puts him inside the building. He advises on rules, coaching and how the game grows around the world. Backers now want him to step out of that role and stand against his own boss.
There is no declared battle yet. Former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega is the only person so far to have said he intends to run.
Two other possible names have stepped aside. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani and UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin have both indicated they are not contenders to challenge Infantino. Concacaf runs football in North and Central America and the Caribbean, while UEFA runs the European game.
The talk comes as FIFA prepares a big financial pitch. It is set to propose a $3.4bn (£2.6bn) increase in money handed out for football development.
The FIFA Council was due to meet in Zurich on Thursday for the first time since the emergence of Infantino's FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme. The Council is FIFA's main decision-making group between full meetings of all members.
What makes this stand out is the choice of challenger. Wenger is not an outsider throwing stones. He is 76, widely respected and already part of FIFA's leadership team.
For fans, this means a simple question. Will next year's election be a quiet nod-through, or will football get the proper debate about money, power and where the game goes next?
