FIFA President Gianni Infantino, in Katowice, Poland, did not answer questions about a possible resignation and his intention to run for a fourth term next year. He arrived for the opening match of the Women’s U-20 World Cup, where Poland’s national team played Argentina.
As Korea Herald reports, Infantino spoke in the stands with Polish Football Association President Cezary Kulesza. In a comment to Sky News, he said there would be a proper place and time to discuss his future, but not on that day and not at a stadium where everyone was enjoying football.
Questions about the FIFA president’s future
Infantino also stated that FIFA continues to work to provide opportunities and dignity to every corner of the world, help countries develop, take part in football and celebrate the game. At the same time, he did not answer direct questions about whether he had considered resigning and whether he intended to seek a new presidential term.
In recent weeks, the FIFA president has largely avoided public attention following the failure of his plan to separate the organization’s commercial rights, including rights to the World Cup, into a separate structure.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Dispute over commercial rights
In July, British newspaper The Times reported on a proposal to create a $20 billion subsidiary that would control FIFA’s commercial rights. Under the plan, 20% of the company was to belong to investors led by a New York fund founded by Joshua Kushner.
The investors’ initial funds were planned to be used for offers of $20 million to each of FIFA’s 211 member national football associations. The associations were given until mid-September to accept the offer, but Infantino withdrew it within four days.
European countries, which make up a quarter of the tournament’s 24 participants, last week backed away from a boycott threat, citing FIFA assurances that the plan would not be revived. At the same time, legal disputes over the initial attempt continue. In a court filing, FIFA accused UEFA of conducting a “campaign to discredit FIFA and its leadership” in a dispute over documents related to the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan.
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