Infantino’s Late Arrival to FIFA Congress Triggers UEFA Backlash
FIFA President Gianni Infantino faced significant criticism after arriving late to the FIFA Congress, leading to accusations from UEFA that he prioritized personal political interests over the sport.
Infantino’s tardiness stemmed from a trip to the Middle East, where he attended events alongside U.S. President Donald Trump. Issues with his private jet resulted in a delayed start to the Congress, originally scheduled for the morning. This prompted delegates from UEFA, including President Aleksander Ceferin and FIFA Vice-President Debbie Hewitt, to stage a protest by leaving at the originally planned time.
In response to the backlash, Infantino offered an apology, acknowledging the disruption. However, UEFA officials expressed their disappointment, stating that the changes in schedule undermined the significance of the Congress, which gathers representatives from all 211 FIFA member nations to discuss critical issues affecting global football.
“The last-minute changes to the timings of the FIFA Congress are deeply regrettable,” UEFA stated in a formal announcement. “To have the timetable altered to accommodate private political interests does a disservice to the game and appears to put its interests second.”
Infantino opened the Congress by explaining his decision to attend the Middle Eastern events, highlighting their relevance to upcoming World Cups in Saudi Arabia and the United States. He described the discussions with world leaders as essential for representing football on a global stage.
“I thought I could make it on time, but unfortunately, we had a little issue with our flight that caused this delay,” Infantino said.
