By Samindra Kunti in Asuncion, Paraguay
May 16 – European football leaders staged a dramatic walkout at the FIFA congress in protest against Gianni Infantino’s delayed arrival following his Middle East Trip with US President Donald Trump.
Tensions boiled over at what had promised to be a routine Congress. Europe’s Council members walked out was supported by a sizable number of European football associations.
It was a long way to travel and then walk out, but it left the FIFA boss, on a high from his Middle East trip with US President Donald Trump, red-faced.
Infantino opened the Congress with an apology: “Let me just start by presenting my apologies for the inconvenience for having to move the Congress kick-off time.”
“Obviously some important discussions took place there with regards to the (FIFA) World Cup with some world leaders in politics and economy and 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.”
But it was not enough to appease representatives of the Old Continent. At the interval, Europe’s eight council members walked out in a coordinated protest. Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin, along with FIFA Council members Razvan Burleanu, Pascal Van Damme, Bernd Neuendorf, Debbie Hewitt, Sandor Csanyi, Dejan Savicevic and Georgios Koumas left the Conmebol venue after the coffee break, leaving Infantino flanked by eight empty seats on stage.
All morning, delegates had been fuming over Infantino’s late arrival from the Qatari capital where he had been hosted at a banquet by the Emir of Qatar.
At 12.30 pm, Infantino eventually got the Congress underway apologising to the member associations but defending his decision to travel with Trump.
Stressing the importance of the Congress in world football, UEFA slammed Infantino in a statement saying: “The last minute changes to the timing of the FIFA Congress are deeply regrettable.
“The FIFA Congress is one of the most important meetings in world football, where all the 211 nations in the world’s game gather to discuss issues that affect the sport right across the world.
“Our hosts, the Paraguay FA and our partners at Conmebol, had gone to considerable effort to accommodate so many delegates and we thank them for their hospitality.
“But to have the timetable changed at the last minute for what appears to be simply to accommodate private political interests, does the game no service and appears to put its interests second.”
FIFA blamed Infantino’s late arrival on a technical issue with the Qatari executive jet the football president travels on. Hours before Congress, delegates received an e-mail from FIFA explaining that “due to unforeseen circumstances” a new delay was required. The Congress had been scheduled to start at 9.30 before it was pushed back to 10.30 and then on the morning itself again to 12.30. Flight details revealed the jet had a stopover in Lagos, Nigeria, presumably to refuel.
Norwegian FA president Lise Klaveness, among those who departed the Congress early, commented: “The situation is concerning. 210 member associations have travelled from all over the world to participate at this Congress here in Paraguay, expecting professional leadership and dialogue at the highest level. I understand the frustration and disappointment from European FIFA members.
“We now expect FIFA to explain this situation to its members and ensure that the voices of the member associations are heard and respected going forward.”
UEFA concluded its statement with a reminder of what this is all meant to be about, saying: “We are all in post to serve football: from the streets to the podium, and UEFA members of the FIFA Council felt the need on this occasion to make a point that the game comes first and to leave as originally scheduled.”
Infantino has established strong ties with U.S. President Trump. He attended Trump’s inauguration in Washington D.C. on January 20. Next year, the U.S. will co-host the World Cup with Canada and Mexico.
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