Stale Solbakken, the manager of Norway, claims that Arsene Wenger’s “stupid comments” regarding the World Cup in Qatar has damaged his reputation.
Wenger left his position as manager of Arsenal in May 2018 after 22 years in charge. In November 2019, he joined FIFA as the group’s head of global football development. In addition to advocating for technical innovation and suggesting rule changes as part of his position, he has also discussed other FIFA-related problems.
Arsene Wenger received harsh criticism earlier this month for his remarks on “political demonstrations” made by World Cup players. Arsene Wenger seemed to imply that players should focus on games rather than raising awareness of issues like migrant workers in Qatar and LGBTQ+ rights.
“It shudders me to see that the smartest man in the world, Arsene Wenger, who has been looked up to over the years, has somehow been brainwashed and is now making the most stupid statements,” Solbakken told Norwegian TV channel TV2.
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“It’s scary with all the people we’ve looked up to in the football world for years. There is a polarisation taking place right now. And I’m afraid that it will only get worse.”
Arsene Wenger has adhered to FIFA’s position, which has sought to keep the attention on football rather than the myriad of problems off the field. After FIFA threatened to issue yellow cards, a number of teams abandoned their plans to wear the One Love armband in support of LGBTQ+ people.
As a result, Germany’s athletes posed with their hands over their lips while Australia and Denmark also spoke out in favour of human rights. Despite not making the World Cup, Norway has regularly been the most outspoken country on these issues, and coach Solbakken has urged his players to express their opinions.
“FIFA has been the biggest failing,” he said on the eve of the tournament. “I think nobody is comfortable with it. My personal concerns are on the human rights issue and how FIFA have handled it, which has not been good. I don’t think football has done enough, I don’t think journalists have done enough.
