The former Arsenal coach appeared to criticize players who showed support for LGBTQ+ rights during the tournament.
Norway manager Stale Solbakken has hit out at Arsene Wenger for his “stupid statements” during the World Cup.
Wenger has been working as FIFA’s head of global football development since November 2019. The Frenchman’s plans to change football rules and the World Cup schedule triggered backlash last year. But he went on to add fuel to the fire with a bizarre statement about Germany’s elimination early exit from the tournament.
Speaking on Norwegian TV channel TV2, Solbakken said: “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.
“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.”
Solbakken went on to criticize FIFA and journalists for their underwhelming response to Qatar’s human rights violations.
“FIFA has been the biggest failing,” he added. “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.”
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