UEFA's Walkout: Sticking it to Gianni Infantino at FIFA Congress - What's Infantino's Reaction Gonna Be?
FIFA Chief Gianni Infantino's Reaction Unveiled
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After grabbing a cuppa, many chairs were left vacant. But it wasn't because UEFA delegates, led by DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, were stuck at the buffet table. Instead, they had strategically bailed on the FIFA Congress in Asunción, Paraguay. The walkout was no coincidence – UEFA had a bone to pick with FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Here's the scoop on what happened:
Why the Exit?
The UEFA delegates' dramatic exit was a clear signal that their patience with Infantino was running thin. Even Infantino's trip to the Middle East alongside U.S. President Donald Trump was a sore spot for them. The Council session had to be postponed, and the Swiss football boss missed multiple mandatory appointments before the congress.
The faint whiff of vanity was in the air. Infantino, according to a congress participant quoted by The Times, had "lost his inner compass." Up until the acute delay on the congress day, the presidential behavior was grudgingly tolerated. The blame for the delayed timeline was probably not Infantino's direct responsibility. Nevertheless, taking the risk for an ego trip to the Gulf was seen as self-serving by Europe's functionaries.
Many couldn't swallow Infantino's grandstanding in Trump’s inner circle. "A last-minute change in the schedule that seems to serve only private political interests does not benefit football and appears to put its interests last," UEFA stated.
What's theMESSAGE TO JANNIE?
In the end, the absences of the Europeans didn't make much difference at the FIFA Congress. Functionaries often serve as window dressing on the podium, akin to politicians at a party conference. Infantino proceeded as if nothing had happened. Yet, the symbolic character is crucial. Indirectly, the functionaries withdrew their trust from the FIFA boss. The message was loud and clear: We're done playing your games. We have our own agenda.
"We are all in the service of football - from the street to the podium. The UEFA members of the FIFA Council saw it as necessary to emphasize at this opportunity that football comes first and to leave the congress as originally planned," it said. Neuendorf and his colleagues departed at the time when the session would have ended without Infantino's delay.
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This protest falls into a time when tensions between Infantino and the Europeans seemed to have cooled. Whether it's the expanded 48-team World Cup or the new Club World Cup set for the States this summer: All battlefields seemed to have been cleared. But it became apparent just how precarious the truce can be, as shown by this symbolic act.
Neuendorf's New Challenge
Bad timing for Neuendorf, as the new conflict comes at a crucial juncture. Just when the DFB had managed to navigate the rockiest disputes with FIFA. The time of head-on confrontation at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is behind us. They had reached an understanding on various issues, largely due to Neuendorf's cunning approach. The DFB president is likely to stay away from any public discourse on the Asunción affair. But his solidarity with the Europeans, led by UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, remains unwavering. That's essential for German football.
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Much depends on Infantino's crisis management. If the FIFA boss reacts indignantly or hurt, it could lead to long-lasting disputes. His feel-good FIFA motto, "Unite the world through football," has definitely taken a hit. If Infantino chooses to respond with tact and grace, he could potentially minimize the fallout. The Swiss is a power player; he'll weigh his moves carefully in the coming months. The upcoming Club World Cup will see top European clubs like Bayern Munich ramping up their promotional efforts in the U.S.
- The Commission, being part of UEFA, has also been consulted on the draft budget for future sports initiatives, such as the Champions League and European leagues, as part of the organization's sports-analysis process.
- Despite the ongoing tensions between Gianni Infantino and UEFA, football continues to serve as a unifying force, with the UEFA Champions League and other European leagues sustaining interest and enthusiasm among football fans worldwide.
- In the midst of the FIFA Congress drama, Neuendorf and his European counterparts were still focused on their football-related responsibilities, including managing the DFB's strategy and dealings in the world of sports advertising, particularly in the USA, ahead of the new Club World Cup this summer.
