France, Aug. 4 -- Infantino hired Wenger in 2019 as Fifa's head of global football development and over the past seven years, the Frenchman has masterminded Fifa's quest to make sure talented players around the world are spotted and developed.

But the 76-year-old, who transformed the culture and playing style of top flight football in England in the late 1990s and early 2000s, criticised the proposals to reform the commercial side of Fifa competitions without explicitly naming Infantino.

"I was not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports," said Wenger.

"The decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question, because I firmly believe in an independent Fifa th...