GIANNI INFANTINO has called an emergency crisis Fifa meeting in a desperate attempt to cling on to his power.

And now Arsene Wenger has joined the growing group distancing themselves from the Swiss chief.

Infantino, 56, sparked chaos around world football last week when news broke of his shock plans to sell off stakes in the World Cup.

That sparked a furious backlash from swathes of football – including Uefa and other continental confederations, who threatened to boycot the World Cup and even plotted to launch a rival tournament to “paralyse Fifa”.

Under overwhelming and mounting pressure, Infantino was forced to make an embarrassing U-turn and ditch his money-grabbing scheme – and now faces a fight to keep hold of his Fifa presidency.

Now he is taking extreme measures to try and retain any support he can.

According to The Times, Infantino is currently holed up in Rabat and has called senior Fifa staff to the Moroccan capital for the urgent gathering.

There was also said to be a meeting of senior Fifa staff on Tuesday without Infantino present, where all but one opposed the controversial World Cup financial plot.

Even so, the chief’s remaining loyal right-hand men are shamelessly appealing to many of the 211 member associations to publicly back the president, who faces an election in March if he survives that long.

But few have done so – including, crucially, Saudi Arabia, hosts of the 2034 World Cup.

Jordan FA president Prince Ali bin Al Hussein launched a damning attack on the Swiss and his organisation, making accusations of “blackmail”.

It is even claimed Fifa withheld funds owed to the Jordan FA – and that the Asian national team federation would benefit from backing Infantino.

Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, 50, wrote on X: “There is no shortage of issues regarding Fifa.

“We have been waiting for reward money for our players since December for the Arab Cup in Qatar, which is a Fifa event. The money our team should receive for having reached the final has not been delivered yet, while at the same time Fifa brags about how many billions they have in reserve.

“It is clear the problem really is with leadership. For months, Fifa has been refusing to help us on any of these or other matters – until it was verbally communicated to me during the World Cup that if I endorsed Infantino it would go a long way to helping our FA out.

“We pride ourselves in Jordan in upholding ethical values. We did not endorse him before and certainly will not now. But the whole situation amounts to blackmail and we refuse to give in to that.”

Within the top brass at Fifa, both Arsene Wenger and Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom have slammed Infantino’s disgraceful plans.

Wenger admitted it was “absolutely necessary” to scrap the scheme – which included setting up a company called Fifa Forward Enterprises (FFE) with a stake held by Donald Trump’s son-in-law’s brother Joshua Kusher – and that he had no idea about it until it became public knowledge.

Fifa’s head of global football development does not intent to quit and said: “The recent events at Fifa deserve some clarity from my side.

“I was not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports. “The decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question, because I firmly believe in an independent Fifa that serves our game with commitment, transparency and integrity.”

Grafstrom, meanwhile, sent an email to Fifa staff in an attempt to boost morale after “a sad and reproachable series of events”.

Grafstrom said: “We have all been thrown into the middle of a turmoil, which is difficult to comprehend and accept, but, as Secretary General, I urge you to remain focused on what has always united us: serving football and serving our 211 member associations.

“A sad and reproachable series of events – which were thankfully concluded with the FFE project permanently abandoned – for as much as we feel dismayed by them, should not overshadow this reality.

“I assure you that you as members of the administration, you will be defended and safeguarded from the political context we currently experience.

“You do not need to worry.

“Individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go.

“The institution, its mission and its responsibility towards world football continue, and that is why we should always keep our professionalism, sense of perspective and composure.” – Sun