Tensions flared at FIFA’s annual congress on Thursday as UEFA accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of putting “private political interests” ahead of football, after he arrived more than two hours late to the event in Paraguay.
Infantino, 55, was on a diplomatic tour of the Middle East with US President Donald Trump and only showed up at 12:47 local time—two hours and 17 minutes after the scheduled 10:30 start. His delayed arrival sparked a protest led by UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, who walked out alongside a group of European delegates, including Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, during a scheduled break in the meeting.
The demonstration left rows of visibly empty seats in the Conmebol Convention Center in Luque, just outside Asunción, as the congress resumed.
In a strongly worded statement, UEFA condemned what it called “last-minute changes” to the congress timetable, calling them “deeply regrettable” and suggesting the adjustments were made to serve Infantino’s personal political engagements. “The FIFA Congress is one of the most important meetings in world football… To have the timetable changed at the last minute for what appears to be simply to accommodate private political interests does the game no service,” UEFA said.
“We are all in post to serve football, from the streets to the podium,” the statement continued. “UEFA members of the FIFA Council felt the need on this occasion to make a point that the game comes first and to leave as originally scheduled.”
Norwegian Football Association president Lise Klaveness also criticised the disruption, saying, “The annual congress is the single most important body to ensure good governance of international football. Member associations have travelled from all over the world to participate at this congress here in Paraguay, expecting professional leadership and dialogue at the highest level.”
Several delegates from the Concacaf region—representing North America, Central America, and the Caribbean—also left the congress early in solidarity.
Infantino, defending his delayed appearance, said the trip allowed him to “represent football” in “important discussions” with global political and economic leaders.
FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström attempted to downplay the fallout. “FIFA has an excellent relationship with UEFA and also with the European members. The president explained the reasons why he was delayed… and we have had a great congress here,” he said.
Despite efforts at reconciliation, the incident underscores growing tensions between FIFA’s leadership and European football’s governing body, raising fresh concerns about governance and priorities at the highest levels of the sport.
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