FIFA president Gianni Infantino was accused by UEFA of placing “private political interests” above football after arriving over two hours late to a major FIFA meeting in Paraguay. The congress, held at the Conmebol Convention Center near Asuncion, was scheduled to begin at 10:30 local time (14:30 BST), but Infantino arrived at 12:47.
The 55-year-old Swiss-Italian had been traveling through the Middle East with United States President Donald Trump before making his way to the Paraguayan capital. Defending his delay, Infantino stated that his meetings were crucial for “representing football” in key talks with prominent political and economic figures.
UEFA walks out in protest
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin led a group of European representatives in leaving the venue during a scheduled break in the proceedings. Among them was Debbie Hewitt, chair of the Football Association. Their absence was noticeable when the congress resumed, with visibly vacant seats left behind by the departing delegates.
In a statement, UEFA criticized the sudden changes to the agenda, calling them “deeply regrettable” and said a clear message had to be sent. The organization emphasized the importance of the annual gathering, where 211 member nations meet to discuss football’s direction.
According to UEFA, rescheduling the congress to accommodate external engagements undermined the sport’s priorities. The statement stressed that football officials should act in the game’s best interest, regardless of personal or political ties.
Concerns over governance and dialogue
Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian Football Association, echoed UEFA’s concerns. She called the event “the single most important body” for overseeing football’s governance and said the handling of the situation was troubling. Klaveness noted that representatives had traveled globally to be present and deserved professional leadership and open discussion.
Several members from CONCACAF, representing North and Central America as well as the Caribbean, also left before the congress concluded.
Attempting to ease the tension, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom stated that the organization maintains strong ties with UEFA and its European members. He said the president had explained the reasons behind his delay and insisted the gathering was ultimately successful.
