Uefa has sharply criticized Fifa president Gianni Infantino, accusing him of prioritizing “private political interests” over his responsibilities to football. The rebuke followed a significant disruption at the annual Fifa congress, where several national delegates, including Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and the Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, staged a walkout in protest against last-minute schedule changes.
The upheaval was triggered by Infantino’s late arrival at the congress after accompanying former US president Donald Trump on a tour of Gulf states. The visit included stops in Qatar, which hosted the 2022 World Cup, and Saudi Arabia, the designated host for the 2034 tournament. Infantino’s delay caused a three-hour postponement of the meeting’s timetable, frustrating delegates who had expected the event to start as originally planned.
Uefa expressed deep regret over the sudden alterations, emphasizing the importance of the congress as a critical forum where representatives from football’s 211 member nations come together to discuss key issues affecting the sport globally. The governing body thanked the Paraguay Football Association and the regional organization Conmebol for their hospitality and efforts to accommodate the large number of attendees, but it criticized the decision to change the schedule at the last moment.
According to Uefa, the rescheduling seemed to be driven by private political considerations rather than the interests of football itself. This, they argued, undermines the game and sidelines its priorities. Uefa members on the Fifa council felt compelled to make a statement by walking out, underscoring that football must come first — from grassroots levels to the highest leadership.
Infantino had attended the Gulf trip with Trump, during which the US figure signed a golden football presented to him by Qatar’s emir. The Fifa president apologized repeatedly for his tardiness upon finally arriving at the congress, asserting that his presence on the tour was essential to representing football’s interests on the global stage. He maintained that his responsibility as Fifa president is to make decisions benefiting the organization as a whole.
The tensions exposed at the congress reveal a growing divide between European football and Fifa’s current leadership. European nations have increasingly felt marginalized within Fifa’s governance structure under Infantino, sensing that their influence is waning as the organization pursues agendas perceived to lie outside traditional football priorities. There is also resentment about Fifa’s positioning as a competitor in club football, alongside lingering disagreements over how the Qatar World Cup and related human rights issues have been handled.
This incident marks a potential turning point in the relationship between European football authorities and Fifa’s global leadership. Until recently, voices critical of Infantino’s approach were few, with the Norwegian Football Association president, Lise Klaveness, standing out as a vocal critic. Klaveness has been an outspoken advocate for migrant workers’ rights in Qatar and took part in the walkout as well. She described Infantino’s absence from the congress as “concerning” and expressed sympathy for the Paraguayan hosts caught in the middle of the dispute.
Klaveness called on Fifa to provide a clear explanation to its members about the situation and urged the organization to respect and amplify the voices of its member associations going forward. The incident reflects broader calls for greater transparency, accountability, and unity within the governance of world football, as stakeholders navigate a complex landscape shaped by political, commercial, and ethical challenges.
The discord highlights the delicate balance Fifa must strike between representing diverse football interests worldwide and managing the political and commercial dynamics that increasingly influence the sport. How Fifa and its member associations resolve these tensions may well shape the future of football governance and cooperation at the highest levels.
