FIFA Congress Delayed Amid UEFA Walkout Protest

FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s late arrival at the FIFA Congress in Paraguay, after traveling with U.S. President Donald Trump on a Middle East trip, delayed the event by over two hours. Infantino prioritized meetings in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, causing frustration among delegates, especially from Europe. Eight UEFA members of the FIFA Council, including UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and English FA President Debbie Hewitt, staged a walkout in protest and did not return, citing concerns over governance and Infantino putting personal political interests above football. Norwegian FA President Lise Klaveness and other officials criticized the disruption, underlining the importance of the congress for global football governance. Infantino apologized, attributing his delay to flight issues, but the incident increased scrutiny of his ties with Trump and autocratic leaders. The walkout overshadowed the congress and sparked renewed debate over accountability in FIFA leadership.