Gianni Infantino refuses to address his Fifa future in rare public appearance | OneFootball

Fifa president Gianni Infantino refused to comment on his future upon attending the launch of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup, as scrutiny remains high following his decision to scrap a controversial plan to sell off World Cup profits.

Infantino observed from the stands alongside Polish soccer federation president Cezary Kulesza as host nation Poland played Argentina on the tournament’s opening day 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 as he arrived 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 answer when asked whether he had considered resigning or if he still intends to seek a fourth term next year.

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Infantino would not be drawn on his future at Fifa (AP)

He had largely kept out of the public eye in recent weeks after his World Cup sell-off scheme collapsed amid resistance from several Fifa member associations and key internal figures.

European nations — making up a quarter of the 24-team tournament — backed away from a threat to boycott last week, following assurances from Fifa that the plan would not be resurrected.

Legal challenges regarding the initial proposal continue, with Europe taking a central role in efforts to remove Infantino before next year’s Fifa election.

A legal filing from Fifa on Thursday accused Uefa of conducting a "smear campaign against Fifa and its leadership" as the European governing body seeks access to evidence connected to the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) venture.

Infantino angered global football executives in July, shortly after the World Cup concluded, when details of his proposed $20 billion commercial subsidiary, designed to manage rights including the World Cup, were exposed by British newspaper The Times.

The offshoot was designed to be 20 per cent owned by investors led by a New York fund created by Joshua Kushner, offering $20 million up front to each of Fifa’s 211 member federations. They were given a mid-September deadline to agree.

The FIFA president abandoned the initiative within four days. Uefa received backing from the Asian Football Confederation and North American body Concacaf, alongside criticism of the plan and Infantino from senior Fifa officials.