Hostility was experienced at the FIFA Congress on Monday when some UEFA delegates stormed out in anger when FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrived late. His tardy arrival was said to be because he had gone for a meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
It happened during a critical session in Bangkok, Thailand, where leaders in the world of football had gathered. UEFA (the European football governing body) members stood up and left the hall in silence as Infantino entered the hall. The action was seen as an open show of dissatisfaction.
UEFA officials describe Infantino’s late arrival as disrespectful and as a sign of a string of behaviors that they can no longer accept. They also questioned the reason behind his late arrival, accusing him of giving a political meeting priority over football matters.
Flashback:
This is not the first controversy Infantino has stirred up with his political affiliations. In 2022, he was accused of having high-profile meetings with global leaders whose human rights credentials are questionable. His detractors say he is blurring the lines between politics and sport and damaging FIFA’s reputation.
The newest walkout arrives as yet another sign of mounting pressure between UEFA and FIFA. European football officials have already battled Infantino on issues like World Cup expansion, governance choices, and openness in key votes.
As per sources, UEFA is able to soon publish an official statement calling for enhanced accountability at FIFA. Some are even calling for a leadership review if the behavior of Infantino does not alter.
Infantino has not commented publicly yet on the walkout. But FIFA officials claim that he views the walkout as an overreaction on their part. But what the incident has done is raise many doubts about whether a seismic change is around the corner in world football.
Overall, the FIFA Congress was meant to bring unity in football across the globe—but Infantino’s late arrival and UEFA’s protest might have done the opposite. The rift between the world sport’s key organizations appears to be widening.
