Fifa officials stonewall media in Auckland

Journalists attempted to ask questions about the role of FIFA Vice President Jeffrey Webb (right) in the corruption charges. Photo / Brendon O'Hagan.

Fifa officials in Auckland for the U20 world cup refused to answer any questions about the bribery and corruption scandal that has engulfed football's governing body at a press conference to mark the tournament's official opening this afternoon.

Fifa communications official Monika Huser said all questions about "recent events in Zurich" should be referred to officials at Fifa HQ in Zurich.

When local journalists attempted to ask questions about the role of Jeffrey Webb, the Fifa Vice President in charge of the tournament's organising committee who is one of seven high ranking officials arrested in Zurich, Ms Huser indicated Fifa officials on the ground in Auckland had been gagged.

"We don't want to talk about it," she said. "We can't actually talk about the recent events happening in Zurich.

"We cannot, even if we wanted to, we do not have any more information. We cannot comment on that and we are awaiting further guidance."

When journalists declined to ask any questions not relating to the scandal Ms Huser declared the press conference closed. Ms Huser and FIFA Head of the Olympics, Club World Cup and U20 World Cup Marion Mayer-Vorfelder and FIFA Project Lead U20 World Cup Rhiannon Martin then left, leaving local organising committee chief executive David Beeche to conduct one-on-one interviews.

Asked if he been thrown to the wolves by the Fifa officials, Mr Beeche said: "Not at all. We have got a job to do. We are here to organise the tournament. Monica said it on there that the people on the ground are here to organise a world class event and that is what we are going to do."

Asked if it was disappointing the focus was not on the tournament Mr Beeche said: "I am not going to comment on that."

Preparations for the tournament's opening game on Saturday in Albany between New Zealand and Ukraine were progressing well.

"We are in great shape. The training grounds are in perfect condition, the stadiums look absolutely amazing, the team are here and it is going to be fantastic quality football."