Eklat at the FIFA Congress: Infantino makes delegates wait for hours!
Eklat at the FIFA Congress: Infantino makes delegates wait for hours!
On May 15, 2025, hundreds of delegates gathered in Asunción, Paraguay, for the FIFA Congress, which was overshadowed by an unexpected scandal. The meeting started with over three hours delay, which caused displeasure and protest among those present. The reason for the delay was the late arrival of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who returned from a trip to the Middle East, where he had talks together with US President Donald Trump.
Originally, the congress was supposed to start at 9:30 a.m. local time, but was postponed to 12:30 p.m. Infantino came with a private jet that landed in Nigeria after a stopover. When he arrived, he apologized for the delay and emphasized the importance of his political conversations, which referred to the World Cup 2026 and 2034. These short -term changes to the schedule met with sharp criticism among delegates, especially from the UEFA, which believed that they served infantinos private political interests.
protest and resentment among the delegates
At the beginning of the congress, numerous European delegates, including DFB President Bernd Neuendorf and UEFA President Aleksander Čefer, expressed their displeasure and left the podium in protest. Her boycott was perceived as a coordinated protest and underlined the split opinions among the delegates. After the Infantino speech, a coffee break was scheduled, but many seats remained empty because the European delegates left the hall.
The Norwegian leader of the association Lise Klaveness called for an explanation from FIFA for the absence of the president on important dates and criticized the constant trips of Infantinos to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. According to the slaveness, it is out of proportion to the needs of football.
FIFA Vice President criticizes delegate
In the middle of this scandal, FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani critically commented on the response of the delegates. He described the behavior as not helpful and called on the unity among the members. Nevertheless, the resentment over the situation remained great, since many delegates had the feeling that FIFA had not fulfilled its obligations.
Overall, this incident once again shows how political interests influence the processes of the international football organization. The DFB and the UEFA agree that such delays and dealing with important topics can harm the reputation of football. The discussions about the future orientation, especially in relation to the World Championships, will certainly increase against the background of these events.
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| Ort | Asunción, Paraguay |
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