The former Arsenal manager has yet to decide on a potential candidacy against Gianni Infantino, but he is expected to make a statement in the middle of next week.
The football world is holding its breath. Arsène Wenger, currently the director of football development at FIFA, has still not formalized his decision regarding a potential candidacy for the presidency of the governing body. The election is scheduled for March 18, and the former Arsenal manager could well stand against the incumbent president, Gianni Infantino.
According to information from the sports daily L'Équipe, the interested party is expected to provide a clear answer in the middle of next week. This highly anticipated announcement could reshuffle the cards of a ballot that had seemed until now largely favorable to Infantino, in office since 2016.
Arsène Wenger, aged 76, enjoys immense credibility in the football world. After twenty-two years at the helm of Arsenal, he joined FIFA in 2019 to oversee technical projects and the development of the game. This position has allowed him to observe from within the inner workings of the institution, but also to measure its limitations.
A candidacy from Wenger would not be insignificant. It would come in a context of recurring criticism toward Gianni Infantino's governance, particularly regarding transparency and the multiplication of competitions. The former Alsatian technician would embody a more consensus-driven profile, focused on ethics and innovation.
It remains to be seen whether this desire, mentioned on several occasions, will materialize. The coming days will be decisive. If Wenger confirms his candidacy, he will need to convince the national federations, often sensitive to promises of redistribution and stability. His program, if he has one, has not yet been unveiled.
In the meantime, speculation is running rampant. Observers are questioning the support the former manager might receive, particularly in Europe and Africa. One thing is certain: Arsène Wenger's decision, whatever it may be, will dominate football news worldwide in the coming days.
According to information from the sports daily L'Équipe, the interested party is expected to provide a clear answer in the middle of next week. This highly anticipated announcement could reshuffle the cards of a ballot that had seemed until now largely favorable to Infantino, in office since 2016.
Arsène Wenger, aged 76, enjoys immense credibility in the football world. After twenty-two years at the helm of Arsenal, he joined FIFA in 2019 to oversee technical projects and the development of the game. This position has allowed him to observe from within the inner workings of the institution, but also to measure its limitations.
A candidacy from Wenger would not be insignificant. It would come in a context of recurring criticism toward Gianni Infantino's governance, particularly regarding transparency and the multiplication of competitions. The former Alsatian technician would embody a more consensus-driven profile, focused on ethics and innovation.
It remains to be seen whether this desire, mentioned on several occasions, will materialize. The coming days will be decisive. If Wenger confirms his candidacy, he will need to convince the national federations, often sensitive to promises of redistribution and stability. His program, if he has one, has not yet been unveiled.
In the meantime, speculation is running rampant. Observers are questioning the support the former manager might receive, particularly in Europe and Africa. One thing is certain: Arsène Wenger's decision, whatever it may be, will dominate football news worldwide in the coming days.
Advertisement
Source: Ouest-France