KATOWICE : FIFA President Gianni Infantino has declined to address growing questions over his future at world football’s governing body, as pressure mounts over his abandoned plan to bring private investors into FIFA’s lucrative commercial rights business.

The 56-year-old was attending the opening day of the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland on Saturday, where hosts Poland faced Argentina, but avoided answering whether he had considered resigning or still intended to seek a fourth term as FIFA president next year.

Speaking outside Arena Katowice, Infantino said there would be a “right place and a right time” to address the controversy, insisting that his focus for the moment remained on football.

“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,” he told Sky News.

Infantino added that FIFA would continue working to give countries across the world greater opportunities to participate in and develop through football.

His comments come after weeks of relative silence following the collapse of the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which would have placed major FIFA commercial rights, including those linked to the World Cup, into a separate company partly owned by private investors.

The plan envisaged selling a 20 per cent stake in the new entity to outside investors. It was abandoned within days after fierce opposition from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF, among others.

According to reports, the proposal valued the enterprise at around $20 billion, with investors led by a New York-based fund associated with Joshua Kushner. The arrangement was also expected to generate payments of around $20 million for each of FIFA’s 211 member associations if approved.

However, the proposal triggered strong criticism from football officials who questioned the governance, consultation process and implications of allowing private investors to gain an interest in FIFA’s most valuable commercial assets.

European football nations had also threatened further action before stepping back from a possible boycott after receiving assurances that FIFA would not revive the plan.

The controversy has since moved into the courts. UEFA is seeking access to documents and evidence connected with the failed investment proposal through legal proceedings in the United States, with the information potentially forming part of proceedings in Switzerland.

FIFA has hit back strongly, accusing UEFA in a court filing of conducting a “smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership” and arguing that the legal applications are intended to damage the organisation and Infantino publicly.

The escalating dispute has left Infantino facing one of the biggest challenges of his presidency, with European football officials taking a leading role in efforts to challenge his leadership ahead of the next FIFA election.

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