UEFA Takes a Stand: Ego Trips and DISarray - How Does FIFA President Gianni Infantino React?
FIFA Chief Gianni Infantino's Response
Hit the snooze button one too many times, or perhaps a detour to the Middle East with the President of the United States? Whatever the excuse, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, and their colleagues left the FIFA Congress in Asunción in a huff. Here's what transpired in the Paraguayan capital:
Why the Unexpected Exit from the FIFA Congress?
With this organized absence, UEFA sent a clear message to FIFA President Gianni Infantino: our patience with you is waning. Even Infantino's trip to the Middle East as part of Donald Trump's entourage had already raised eyebrows. Delays in the planned Council session and missed appointments before the congress only added fuel to the fire.
The underlying accusation? Ego-tripping. "The FIFA president has lost his moral compass," a congress participant quoted by the English newspaper "The Times" said. A last-minute schedule change, seemingly catering to private political interests, left a bitter taste among Europe's football officials.
"A sudden delay in the schedule that appears to serve only personal interests does not benefit football and seems to compromise its interests," UEFA stated[1].
The Power Play and its Symbolism
In the end, the European delegates' absence from the FIFA Congress was negligible. But the symbolic impact was significant. Indirectly, they withdrew their trust from the FIFA boss, signaling, "We're done playing your games anymore. We have our own agenda."
Neuendorf and his colleagues bid adieu at the time when the congress would have concluded without Infantino's delay.
Sports - A Precarious Truce
This confrontation comes at a delicate time, when the worst conflicts between Infantino and the Europeans seemed to have subsided. Whether it's the expanded World Cup with 48 participants or the new Club World Cup, all seeming battlegrounds were dissipating. The fragility of the truce became evident in this calculated move.
The Role of DFB President Neuendorf
This new conflict impedes upon Neuendorf's tenure at an inopportune moment. As the DFB overcomes its tempestuous past with FIFA, the time of frontal confrontation at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has passed. They've reached compromises on contentious issues, aided by Neuendorf's shrewd diplomacy efforts. It's unlikely Neuendorf will take center stage in the fallout from Asunción. But his loyalty to Europe's heavyweights remains undeterred. It's essential for German football.
Economy - Cryptocurrency and the Football Turf War
The future rests on Infantino's crisis management. If he responds with indignation or ridicule, it could lead to long-term friction. His FIFA motto, "Unite the world through football," undoubtedly sustained damage. If Infantino maintains his composure and demonstrates magnanimity, he might manage to downplay the incident. The Swiss is known for his political maneuvering; he'll weigh the best course of action in the coming months. The upcoming Club World Cup, featuring star-studded European teams like FC Bayern Munich, will be the advertising machine's next big push in the USA.
Source: ntv.de, Arne Richter, dpa
- Fifa
- Uefa
- DFB
- Football
[1] Enrichment Data: Associated Press (AP), May 16, 2025. "(...) The move is seen as a reaction to the FIFA president's late arrival to the congress, which was delayed by three hours. The protest follows Infantino's trip to the Middle East with US President Donald Trump, visiting leaders from several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar (...) UEFA criticized Infantino for prioritizing private political interests over football."
- The Commission, consulted on the draft budget, may find it necessary to address the escalating conflict between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA, particularly in light of UEFA's dramatic exit from the FIFA Congress.
- Despite the ongoing truce between Infantino and European officials, the recent incident at the FIFA Congress has raised questions about Infantino's commitment to football, paralleling debates in sports analysis about sports figures prioritizing personal interests over their respective sports.
- In the middle of the Champions League season and European leagues, the ongoing feud between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA's President Aleksander Čeferin might have significant repercussions, potentially impacting the performance of star-studded European teams like FC Bayern Munich in upcoming competitions.
