FIFA Congress in Paraguay delayed because president Gianni Infantino was late
FIFA's Congress in Paraguay was delayed on Thursday because FIFA's own president Gianni Infantino had not arrived on time for the scheduled 10.30am start time in Asunción.
The Athletic reported last week that the meeting of the FIFA Council, scheduled for Tuesday of this week, had been altered to be a virtual meeting because President Infantino had decided to join the U.S. president Donald Trump for a visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar this week.
Advertisement
Infantino was present for meetings that took place this week between President Trump with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and the Qatari Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.
While Infantino was appearing to form part of the U.S. President's extended entourage, representatives from global soccer associations met in Asunción for a week of meetings in Infantino's absence.
This includes Presidents and CEO's or general secretaries of every national federation. Infantino also missed a dinner hosted by the Paraguayan state officials on Wednesday evening, but was due to arrive on Thursday morning in time to address the FIFA Congress.
However, his flight still appeared to be in the air for the original local start time of 9:30 am in Paraguay.
The 55-year-old was flying on a Qatari private jet, which stopped briefly in Nigeria to refuel before travelling on to South America.
The event had already been delayed until 1030am, but member associations and delegates received an email from FIFA citing unexplained 'unforeseen circumstances', therefore delaying the event until 12:30 pm.
A security guard approached The Athletic outside the venue and said they had been briefed that the event had been delayed due to the president's late arrival. The security guard was then asked if they meant the Paraguayan president or the FIFA president, and they said the latter.
FIFA has been approached for comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ex-Trump Aide Spells Out How Elon Musk Could Gain Ultimate Revenge On The President
Former White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin explained Wednesday why she believes tech billionaire Elon Musk could now actually 'tank Donald Trump's entire legislative agenda.' Griffin, a co-host on ABC's 'The View,' warned that Musk's vocal opposition to Trump's so-called 'big, beautiful' spending bill could sway Republicans in Congress, especially those worried about the consequences to their seats if they cross the world's richest person. Musk recently slammed the bill as a 'disgusting abomination' for how it will hike the national debt. He had previously staked his reputation on slashing federal spending in his now-ended role running Trump's unofficial Department of Government Efficiency. Trump, for now, has remained silent on Musk's criticism. Griffin, who served in the Trump administration during his first term, noted how the bill has measures on energy, border security and extends Trump's tax cuts. 'If Republicans decide, 'Oooh, we don't want to get on the wrong side of Elon,' that is what Donald Trump is banking it all on,' she continued. 'And that is kind of devastating for his administration.' 'On the flip side, those Republicans, if you're in a House district, you're like, 'I'm afraid of Donald Trump,' but Elon Musk, because of the dark money system we live in, he can come in and primary you by just pouring millions and millions into your race.' All Musk needs to do, she suggested, is 'peel off a handful of Republicans' to tip the balance of power in the House. Watch here: Critics Cackle Over Mike Johnson's Awkward Confession About Elon Musk Phone Call 'You Wussed Out': David Mamet Reveals Trump's 20-Minute Call After He Committed A MAGA Sin Critics Gasp At Trump Official's 'The Thing That Matters' Declaration
Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Educational Choice for Children Act: A tax break for the rich, not a lifeline for students
Like many Americans this summer, I'll be heading to a football stadium to see Beyoncé deliver two hours of magic on her Cowboy Carter Tour. I paid a premium for those tickets – and I'm OK with that. It was my choice – not something I can deduct from my taxes or expect to be federally subsidized. That's the way it should be. The same goes for my guilty pleasure: "Keeping Up With the Kardashians." I don't mind watching the antics of one of America's most famous (and wealthiest) families, but I'd never ask taxpayers to help fund their children's private school tuition. And yet, some in Congress think that's precisely what we should do. A proposal quietly tucked into the House GOP's reconciliation package, part of what's being marketed as President Donald Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill," would give wealthy individuals and corporations a 100% federal tax credit for donations to private school scholarship funds. This proposal – the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) – effectively allows wealthy donors to turn tuition into a tax write-off. That's right. This plan, currently before the U.S. Senate, would allow billionaires to "donate" to their kids' private schools – and then receive every cent back in tax relief, at the expense of American taxpayers. This is not a small-dollar program. The measure could siphon more than $10 billion away from federal revenues, funds that could otherwise strengthen our nation's public schools. Now, I don't think Blue Ivy Carter or North West needs our help getting into elite institutions. However, the backers of this bill, such as House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, have argued that it's primarily about helping working-class students escape "low-performing" schools. "It will encourage more individuals and businesses to invest in our children's futures," Stefanik said, "by establishing a 75% federal tax credit for qualified charitable contributions made to nonprofit schools with proven success." That sounds good – until you look at the evidence. In practice, measures like ECCA have the opposite effect. Instead of helping students in underfunded schools, they divert public dollars to families who already have access to private education. We've seen it happen in more than 20 states, where private schools receive more than $1 billion each year through similar tax credits, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. A 2023 report in St. Louis Today revealed that most students receiving vouchers in Missouri were already attending private schools, while only 35% came from public schools. In other words, this isn't about opportunity. It's about entitlement. Every year, public schools educate nearly 50 million students – more than 90% of the nation's children. These taxpayer-funded institutions have produced extraordinary alumni, including the CEOs of Apple, Walmart and the majority of Fortune 500 companies. Public schools are where kids learn how to live and work in a diverse democracy. They're not perfect, but they are essential. Educators know this better than anyone. A 2024 Pew Research Center survey of more than 2,300 public school teachers found that most feel underpaid, under-supported and under-resourced. Respondents also reported a deep commitment to their students and their profession. More than half of these educators said they wished the public understood the difficulty of their job. Teachers across the U.S. are clear: students don't need more "choice" – they need more investment. As one Kentucky educator told the Louisville Courier Journal earlier this year, "If lawmakers actually stepped into our classrooms, they'd see what we're doing with so little. Give us more counselors, working air conditioning, and reading specialists – don't hand tax breaks to people who already have advantages." These educators are on the front lines. They're not asking for handouts. They're asking for fairness – and for policies that reflect the real needs of public school communities. It's worth noting that the original pitch behind voucher programs – dating back to the early 2000s – was to help low-income families in struggling urban districts. But decades of research have shown that voucher students don't perform significantly better in reading or math than their public school peers. Meanwhile, the programs have drained resources from the very schools most in need of help. That's not reform. That's abandonment. The concept of "school choice" has become a catch-all for undermining public education without explicitly stating so. But make no mistake: this is a wealth transfer in disguise, and ECCA is its latest vehicle. As a son of immigrants and a proud product of public schools, I know firsthand what public education can offer. I've seen how classrooms can unlock potential and teachers can change lives. I've also seen what happens when we neglect those systems and call it innovation. This isn't just bad policy. It's a betrayal of the American promise. Let's be clear: families have every right to choose private or religious schools for their children. But they shouldn't expect the rest of us to foot the bill. Tax dollars should be allocated where the need is greatest – schools that serve all students, regardless of their ZIP code, income or background. At a time when the country feels increasingly divided, our public schools are one of the few places where kids from every walk of life still come together. That's something worth protecting, not defunding. Or, to borrow a phrase from Queen Bey herself, what's happening with this bill is more than just a bad idea. It's a requiem for the American ideal. Let's not let it play out.
Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
South Boston congressman running in committee race, latest Democratic Party proxy battle
Lynch's standing as the longest-tenured member of the committee might have made him a shoo-in in another era. But the value of longevity has been eroding in recent years and instead the race is wide open, as Democrats have been debating across the party how much value to place on seniority versus infusing the brand with newer-school tactics and energy. Advertisement 'People are just coming around to talking to candidates, but I think that it's different this time around,' said Representative Nanette Barragán, of California. 'I don't think there's a lock on this race for anybody.' Lynch, 70, was selected by the late Representative Gerry Connolly of Virginia to temporarily replace him in late April as top Democrat on the oversight committee when Connolly stepped aside amid a worsening cancer prognosis. Advertisement It's the third time Lynch has sought the post, coming in third twice before. This time he'll face at least three colleagues, and the competition is stiff. But Lynch has reason to be optimistic. Just months ago, Historically, seniority carried significant weight in who would lead committees, with powerful voting blocs like the Congressional Black Caucus supporting the longest-tenured candidates in the field. But that tradition has ebbed over time and is being questioned more intensely amid a re-examination of the Advertisement Lynch said he's making the case to colleagues that experience matters, especially if Democrats flip the House. 'I've served on this committee for 24 years, so I've been involved in every single oversight investigation that we've done over that time,' Lynch said, noting that has included two impeachments. 'It's quite similar to complex, multiparty litigation, where you've really got to be disciplined and organized, and so I think I'm well qualified to do that.' But House Democrats have increasingly selected younger members for top committee spots, with longtime leaders ceding the way amid challenges on the judiciary, natural resources, and agriculture committees this year. And some of his competitors say it's time for new blood. 'Over the last several years, these people [for whom] their whole race has hinged on seniority, and people have propped them up just because of seniority, I think they've done the whole seniority system, actually, a big disservice,' said Florida Representative Maxwell Frost, the first member of Congress from Gen Z. 'It harbors resentment in those who did not get their way because of the perceived, you know, pedestal that seniority's put on.' Crockett, who has drawn public attention for her ability to create viral moments in hearings and engage different audiences, says she possesses communications skills as well as technical chops. She was previously a public defender and private attorney. 'I have represented well over 5,000 people. So as far as going through the investigatory process and being able to do that and dealing with criminals, it's something I am very familiar with,' Crockett said. 'I do have those bona fides to not only be able to do the job, but also communicate out exactly what it is that I've done and why it should matter.' Advertisement But Crockett has also raised eyebrows with her high profile moments, including Though lawmakers have been expressing their desire to run for the position in the weeks since Connolly stepped back as ranking member, the official race has only just begun. This week is the first opportunity for declared candidates to lobby their colleagues in person. They'll have three weeks to do so —House Democrats will vote on the position in a secret ballot June 24. No one is confidently predicting an outcome. With four candidates in the race, results could be unpredictable and take multiple rounds of voting. Lynch is likely to draw support from his Massachusetts colleagues, but they are only nine members of the House Democratic caucus. As lawmakers weigh questions of experience and style, the personal campaigning may be most key, said California Representative Jimmy Gomez, who said he hadn't yet decided on a candidate. 'I think it's a multifaceted offense, like, who has good relationships with the members, who burned bridges, who built bridges, who's been a team player, and who can demonstrate that the position is not about them, but the entire caucus, right?' Gomez said. 'Are you messaging for, you know, 'I'm just gonna try to get more followers on Instagram and Tiktok ... and try to get on MSNBC,' or 'I'm gonna try to message for the entire Democratic caucus in order to win back the House.'' Advertisement Tal Kopan can be reached at
