Jamie Carragher claims Arsene Wenger asked him to endorse controversial FIFA World Cup idea to fans

· Yahoo Sports

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Jamie Carragher talked about being approached by the legendary Arsenal manager, who has since joined FIFA, to endorse a proposal many fans were against.

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FIFA as an organisation have come under fire over the last few months, despite the enormous success of the FIFA World Cup this summer.

Gianni Infantino’s attempt to privatise the FIFA World Cup through a subsidiary was instantly rejected. But years ago, FIFA tried floating a far more controversial idea, one helmed by one of football’s great managers.

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Jamie Carragher recalls Arsene Wenger-led Zoom call for bi-annual FIFA World Cup

Speaking on the Football Ramble podcast, Jamie Carragher looked back on an invitation from Arsene Wenger, on behalf of FIFA, to be on a Zoom call and discuss the possibility of a bi-annual World Cup.

After his participation, where he didn’t vocalise support or dissent, FIFA officials asked him to endorse the proposal. Carragher realised that they were using ex-players to legitimise the pitch in the eyes of fans.

“I had a little chat with Arsene Wenger. He was getting involved with FIFA at the time. It was all around this World Cup, being every two years.

“He said, ‘I’d like you to come on this other call with ex players and we’re going to chat about the idea going forward.’ I’m like, ‘Brilliant, amazing!’

“See who is on it. We get on this Zoom. It wasn’t just English players. Mascherano was on there, it was all foreign players from all over the world. They were basically talking about the pros of a World Cup every two years.

“Now, I’m just listening, asking questions. I don’t like the idea. He finishes this Zoom. I haven’t said I don’t like it or that it shouldn’t happen. I’m just chatting with these ex-players. The guy who was organising the Zoom then texted me and said, ‘Okay, can you put this out supporting it?

“And I was like, ‘No, no no! Just because I came on the Zoom, I don’t agree with it! I don’t want it! I think it’s rubbish!’

“It was almost this feeling of, ‘Once you’re in here with us and you’re on this Zoom, we had all these ex-players, and we’re in!’

“And that was my insight into it, with Wenger and Infantino above him. ‘Get all these ex-players in. This makes us look okay.’ The ex-players, half of them don’t care. From that, I was like, ‘Nah, I’m not having this at all!'”

FIFA will continue to face backlash as long as they try to sacrifice fan interest for commercial interest

FIFA, as an organisation have been criticised for decades now, as allegations of corruption, misappropriation of funds, and overall profit prioritisation has soured fans on the Swiss-based body.

Infantino in particular has been criticised over the last two World Cups in Qatar and North America for prioritising financial interests and investor sentiments over the product and quality of the game.

At some point, fans were bound to rebel against him and the organisation, as in their eyes, FIFA have failed in their role as arbiters of the world’s game.

There is a strong chance that Infantino could be ousted as FIFA president in the upcoming elections, as his decisions have not just upset fans, but also caught the ire of several football governing bodies.

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