UEFA has accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of prioritising “private political interests” after he arrived more than two hours late to FIFA’s congress in Luque, Paraguay.
Infantino, 55, had been touring the Middle East with U.S. President Donald Trump and showed up at 12:47 local time—over two hours after the scheduled 10:30 start.
“This trip was crucial,” Infantino said, claiming it allowed him “to represent football” in “important discussions” with “world leaders in politics and economy.”
In response, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin led a group of European delegates, including FA chair Debbie Hewitt, in walking out during a break.
UEFA said the “last-minute changes” were “deeply regrettable,” adding: “To have the timetable changed… for what appears to be simply to accommodate private political interests… does the game no service.”
FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom insisted relations remain strong, saying the president “had important matters to deal with.”