Gianni Infantino makes rare public appearance amid calls for him to quit Fifa

Under mounting pressure after abandoning his project to sell off World Cup profits, Fifa president Gianni Infantino has attended the opening of the Under-20 Women's World Cup. Infantino was pictured in the stands conversing with Polish soccer federation president Cezary Kulesza as host nation Poland took on Argentina on the tournament's opening day on Saturday. He had largely remained out of the public eye during the weeks following the collapse of his commercial scheme amid opposition from multiple Fifa member associations and internal officials. European representatives — who account for a quarter of the 24-team competition — dropped a proposed boycott last week after receiving firm assurances from Fifa that the initiative would not be restarted. Legal proceedings regarding the initial attempt continue, with European figures assuming a prominent role in broader moves to unseat Infantino prior to next year's Fifa election. Infantino has been urged to resign by Uefa and other football governing bodies (AP) In a court submission on Thursday, Fifa accused Uefa of conducting a "smear campaign against Fifa and its leadership" while the European body seeks evidence discovery relating to the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan. Fifa wrote: “Rather than participate in that democratic process, Uefa issued a press release - the beginning of a weeks-long smear campaign against Fifa and its leadership.” The filing also accused Uefa’s legal proceedings of containing “legal deficiencies” and accused the European body of acting out of desire to prevent other countries gaining the “financial strength to compete with the European elite”. It said: “If soccer is strengthened in the developing world, global competition increases, which ultimately reduces Uefa's market power and provides more competition for its flagship tournaments. “By raising funds to allow some of Fifa’s smaller member associations to better develop soccer, FFE would lead to more players from those nations choosing to represent their countries of origin and playing in their home leagues rather than playing abroad. “All of this would erode Uefa’s dominance over other regions of the world.” Infantino angered global football authorities in July, shortly after the conclusion of the World Cup, when British newspaper The Times outlined his concept for a $20 billion subsidiary managing Fifa commercial rights, including the World Cup. The venture was designed to be 20% owned by an investor group led by a New York fund created by Joshua Kushner, with funding designated to offer $20 million to each of Fifa's 211 member federations by a mid-September deadline. The Fifa president abandoned the proposal within four days. Uefa secured backing from the Asian Football Confederation and North American governing body Concacaf, while senior Fifa officials also expressed opposition to the plan and Infantino.