Infantino stays away from talks of the future
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KATOWICE, Poland (AP):
FIFA President Gianni Infantino declined to answer questions about his future as he arrived for the opening of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup, remaining under pressure following the collapse of his plan to sell off World Cup profits.
Infantino was in the stands with Polish Football Association President Cezary Kulesza as hosts Poland took on Argentina on the opening day of the tournament on Saturday.
“There will be a lot to say, but there will be a right place and a right time to say this. It’s not today, it’s not here but, here and today, we are enjoying football,” Infantino told broadcaster Sky News on his arrival at the stadium.
“We are continuing at FIFA, of course, to work to give every corner of the world a chance, an opportunity, a dignity, to find ways and means for them to become better and to participate and to celebrate football, which we all love.”
Infantino declined to respond when asked whether he had considered resigning and if he still intended to seek a fourth term next year.
The FIFA president has largely stayed out of the spotlight in recent weeks since his World Cup sell-off proposal collapsed amid opposition from many FIFA member associations and some officials within the organisation.
European nations, which make up a quarter of the 24-team field, backed away from a boycott threat last week after receiving assurances from FIFA that the proposal would not be revived.
Legal action stemming from the original plan continues, while Europe has taken a leading role in efforts to remove Infantino ahead of next year’s FIFA election.
A court filing by FIFA on Thursday accused UEFA of conducting a “smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership” as the European football governing body seeks discovery of evidence related to the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan.
Infantino drew widespread criticism from football leaders in July, shortly after the World Cup ended, when British newspaper The Times revealed plans for a US$20-billion subsidiary that would control FIFA’s commercial rights, including those to the World Cup.
The proposed spinoff would have been 20 per cent owned by investors led by a New York fund created by Joshua Kushner. The initial investment was intended to fund offers of US$20 million to each of FIFA’s 211 member associations, which were given a mid-September deadline to accept.
The FIFA president withdrew the proposal within four days. UEFA received support from the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf, while senior FIFA officials also voiced criticism of both the plan and Infantino.