Football Politics: Infantino's Late Arrival Sparks FIFA Congress Uproar
FIFA President's Trump-led excursion ignites commotion at organization's congress - Trump's Visit to Gianni Infantino Creating Waves at FIFA Assembly
You might think the CBD was rolled out for a rockstar, but it was FIFA President Gianni Infantino making his grand entrance at the Asunción Convention Centre. Yet, his tardiness at the FIFA Congress, caused by a supposed plane issue, left a bad taste in the mouths of many, even leading to an unprecedented walkout.
The European council delegates, led by DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, took a bold stance against Infantino's behavior by vacating the congress podium in protest. After a coffee break, the functionaries didn't return to their reserved seats, officially confirming the coordinated action.
Navigating Politics and Football
According to the German Press Agency, the European delegates were peeved by Infantino's actions—arriving late in Asunción after his controversial Middle East trip with U.S. President Donald Trump. The congress began more than three hours late, and Infantino apologized for the oversight before conducting the general assembly routinely.
Infantino justified his actions by stating, "As FIFA president, it is my responsibility to make decisions in the interest of the organization." He claimed he felt compelled to represent football and the delegates in meetings with Trump in preparation for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada [1].
Turmoil Before the Walkout
Delegate reactions were volatile even before the UEFA boycott, with many expressing their displeasure after the time shift. On the other hand, Paraguay's President Santiago Pena welcomed Infantino as a friendly visiting dignitary, despite his absence at the usual banquet the evening before [2].
Initial reports indicated that the Learjet carrying Infantino from Qatar was still airborne when the meeting was supposed to begin. The countdown on the FIFA homepage for the congress start was extended by one hour before the clock ran down an additional three hours.
Recent days have seen much controversy surrounding Infantino's trip to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, where he attended meetings with Trump instead of usual events before the FIFA Congress. Critics argue that Infantino should have prioritized the Congress over political engagements [3].
Political Appreciation, Football Frustration
"Great job, Gianni," Trump praised Infantino during a meeting on the trip, as heard in a video. However, many FIFA delegates in Paraguay did not share this sentiment. Norwegian federation president Lise Klaveness emphasized, "It's important that he's present on the days we're present. This is the most important meeting for us."
Despite the walkout, the Congress Show proceeded as usual, with much applause. The absence of Europeans on stage went unremarked. Infantino promised a trouble-free World Cup in America, assuaging concerns about the rigid Trump policy. Financially, FIFA announced records, with a projected 13 billion dollars in revenue for the 2023-2026 cycle, double the revenue from the previous cycle [4].
However, the delay and the subsequent walkout may lead to further questions and scrutiny of Infantino's actions.
- Gianni Infantino
- FIFA
- Donald Trump
- UEFA
- Paraguay
- Asunción
- Bernd Neuendorf
- Aleksander Ceferin
- DFB
- Lise Klaveness
Enrichment Data:
- The collective walkout of UEFA delegates during Gianni Infantino's speech at the FIFA Congress in Asunción was due to his significantly delayed arrival. Infantino arrived more than two hours late to the event, following a diplomatic trip with U.S. President Donald Trump to the Middle East. This delay caused a disruption to the scheduled proceedings, leading UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin and other European delegates to stage a walkout during a break in the meeting. The walkout was a protest against Infantino's prioritization of political engagements over the important football event[1][2][3].
- In response to the criticism, Infantino apologized at the beginning of his speech, explaining that the delay was due to important discussions related to the World Cup and a flight issue. He stated, "Let me just start by presenting my apologies for the inconvenience for having to move the Congress kick-off time... I felt like I had to be there to represent all of you, to represent football, I thought I could make it on time but unfortunately we had a little issue with our flight, which caused this delay" [2]. However, this apology was not enough to placate the European representatives, who left in a coordinated protest.
- The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment, given the political controversy surrounding Gianni Infantino's prioritization of football diplomacy over the FIFA Congress in Asunción.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation, the late arrival and subsequent walkout of UEFA delegates at the FIFA Congress serve as a reminder of the importance of adhering to agreed-upon schedules in political and sports events.
- The football-politics controversy in Asunción underscores the delicate interplay between sports and politics, not only at the international level but also within the European leagues, particularly at the UEFA presidency.
- Despite the turmoil caused by Gianni Infantino's absence at the FIFA Congress in general-news, the European leagues continue to focus on their respective sports, such as football, with the ongoing 2021-2022 season in the European leagues and the upcoming European Leagues' premier competitions.
