FIFA’s President Gianni Infantino chose not to discuss his future plans as he made an appearance at the start of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup amidst ongoing scrutiny following the abandonment of his proposal to sell World Cup profits.
Infantino was seen conversing with Cezary Kulesza, the president of the Polish soccer federation, while attending the opening match between host nation Poland and Argentina on Saturday.
In response to inquiries, Infantino mentioned, “There will be a time and place to address this, but it’s not today or here. For now, we are here to enjoy football.” He emphasized FIFA’s commitment to providing opportunities for global participation and growth in the sport.
When questioned about resigning or running for a fourth term next year, Infantino remained silent. Following the collapse of his World Cup profit sell-off scheme, Infantino had maintained a low profile, away from the public eye.
Despite some European nations threatening a boycott, they withdrew their stance after receiving assurances from FIFA that the plan would not be resurrected. Legal battles surrounding the initial proposal continue, with Europe leading efforts to remove Infantino prior to the upcoming FIFA election.
In a recent court filing, FIFA accused UEFA of conducting a “smear campaign” against FIFA and its leadership, as the European body seeks access to evidence related to the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan.
Infantino faced global backlash in July when details of his $20 billion subsidiary plan, involving a New York fund and offers to FIFA member federations, were revealed. The proposal, which aimed at commercializing FIFA rights including the World Cup, was swiftly withdrawn after criticism from various soccer bodies and senior FIFA officials.
