India, Nov. 15 -- Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has decided against running for FIFA president, handing incumbent Gianni Infantino a significant boost ahead of next year's election. The Frenchman had emerged as a credible challenger after UEFA began searching for an alternative candidate to oppose Infantino's bid for a fourth term.

According to reports, Wenger informed senior UEFA executives of his decision earlier this week following several weeks of discussions and lobbying from European football officials. His withdrawal comes as a major setback for UEFA, which had viewed the 77-year-old as one of the strongest candidates capable of challenging the current FIFA chief.

The deadline for candidates to formally declare their inten...