Overview
- Gianni Infantino arrived three hours late to the 75th FIFA Congress in Paraguay after accompanying U.S. President Donald Trump on state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
- European FIFA Council members, including UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, staged an unprecedented walkout in protest of the delay and Infantino's prioritization of political engagements.
- UEFA issued a formal statement condemning the last-minute schedule changes, accusing Infantino of prioritizing private political interests over FIFA's governance responsibilities.
- Infantino apologized for the delay, attributing it to flight issues and defending his trip as necessary to represent football in discussions with world leaders.
- The incident highlights growing tensions over FIFA's governance, with European delegates criticizing Infantino's leadership and calling for greater accountability.