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The Independent
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
FIFA boss accused of disrespect following Trump visit
FIFA president Gianni Infantino 's late arrival to the FIFA Congress, due to a trip with Donald Trump to the Middle East, sparked a walkout by UEFA delegates, including FA chair Debbie Hewitt. UEFA accused Infantino of prioritising "private political interests" over the game, citing last-minute schedule changes to accommodate his trip with Trump and meetings with leaders in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The walkout, led by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, left rows of empty seats during Infantino's address, highlighting the growing unrest within European football administration concerning FIFA's direction under Infantino. Infantino defended his trip as essential for representing football in discussions with world leaders, particularly regarding the 2026 and 2034 World Cups. The incident underscores tensions within FIFA and raises questions about Infantino's leadership and the influence of political agendas on the organisation.
Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Gianni Infantino humiliated during congress speech over Donald Trump visit
Furious Fifa members staged a walkout at its annual congress when Gianni Infantino turned up hours late after prioritising joining Donald Trump's Gulf tour. Eight European members of the governing body's ruling council, including Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt and Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin, and some of the continent's other delegates did not return from a coffee break during the meeting in the Paraguayan capital of Asunción. Fifa president Infantino had already risked upsetting delegates by delaying his arrival to join US president Trump's trip to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, something that had meant missing meetings with football's continental confederations and a state dinner at Paraguay's presidential palace to mark the country's independence day. That he then turned up three hours late for the congress itself after travelling to Asunción by private jet was seen as a snub too far by many of his own electorate, who had been left in limbo waiting for the meeting to start. Lise Klaveness, the president of the Norwegian FA and a member of Uefa's executive committee, said: 'The delayed arrival of the Fifa president at the congress is disappointing. The annual congress is the single most important body to ensure the good governance of international football. 'The situation is concerning as 210 member associations have travelled from all over the world to participate at this congress here in Paraguay, expecting professional leadership and dialogue at the highest level. I understand the frustration and disappointment from European Fifa members.' Klaveness said she and other European colleagues decided to leave at 2pm local time 'as initially planned for a respectful departure'. She added: 'We now expect Fifa to explain this situation to its members and ensure that the voices of the member associations are heard and respected going forward.' Infantino apologised to the congress several times for his late arrival, citing issues with his flight for the delay. But he also defended his trip to the Middle East, saying: 'As president of Fifa my responsibility is to make decisions in the interests of the organisation. I felt that I needed to be there to represent football and all of you.' His late show also followed the 11th-hour switch of an in-person Fifa council meeting from Tuesday this week to a remote summit last Friday. Infantino has made his relationship with Trump a priority since the latter's re-election and ahead of this summer's inaugural 32-team Club World Cup in the US and next year's World Cup, which is also being primarily staged there.
The Independent
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
FA chair joins protest against Gianni Infantino's late arrival to Fifa Congress after Saudi trip with Donald Trump
FA chair Debbie Hewitt joined European delegates on an unprecedented walkout of Fifa Congress in Paraguay, in protest at Gianni Infantino 's hours-late arrival from a trip to the Middle East with Donald Trump. The situation created the embarrassing situation of the Fifa president speaking alongside rows of empty seats at the Fifa Council. The situation could precipitate a new civil war within Fifa, football's global governing body, although senior sources insist this was more about sending 'a strong message' for Infantino 'to change his behaviour' and reassess 'his personal political agenda'. The Norwegian football federation accused Infantino of disrespect and demanded an explanation from Fifa. The annual Congress had already been moved due to Infantino's trip to the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, where he spent time with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Trump, two world leaders he has developed close links with over the past eight years. Delegates later received an email saying Infantino had been further delayed to 'unforeseen circumstances', which caused the farcical sight of senior football officials tracking his movements on online flight radars. Such absurdity was nevertheless complemented by fury. There had already been growing unrest within European football administration about the general direction of Fifa, and how so many key decisions seem to be taken without wider consultation. Among them are calls on the newly expanded Club World Cup and the highly controversial voting processes for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups. While Infantino eventually arrived in Asuncion and gave hurried apologies before his rushed keynote speech, numerous officials were left furious. Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin led a delegation of European Council members in deciding to walk out after the break, leaving the sight of so many empty seats for the rest of Congress. The Council is Fifa's highest body, and supposed to act as the body's main check and balance. The Norwegian federation added that its delegation 'chose to leave the Congress venue together with several European colleagues at 2pm as initially planned' – by the previous time schedule – 'for a respectful departure'. Infantino later defended his trip, insisting it was crucial 'to represent football' in 'important discussions' with 'world leaders in politics and economy', not to mention those central to the hosting of the 2026 (USA, Mexico and Canada) and 2034 World Cups (Saudi Arabia). But some officials were sceptical that the extended time was merely down to his personal political agenda. There was also a feeling that this went against the Fifa president's very job description, since he is essentially supposed to serve the members who vote him in. There was further difficulty for Infantino when a representative of the Palestine FA, Susan Shalabi, took the floor to admonish the governing body for continuously postponing a decision on their proposal that Israel should be banned for football over the claim the country has gone against Fifa statutes by staging football matches on illegally occupied land. Some senior figures feel the issue is going to be continuously put off due to the political sensitivity, as well as the very idea that a football federation would take a decision of this nature before international bodies like the United Nations. It is also where Infantino's relationship with Trump is seen as potentially influential, given the US president's generally pro-Israel policy on Gaza. The Norwegian FA's secretary general, Karl-Petter Loken, stayed behind to express his federation's support for the case of the Palestinian FA.
Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Times
Gianni Infantino humiliated by Fifa walkout over Donald Trump visit
The Fifa president Gianni Infantino was humiliated by a walkout of European members after he delayed the organisation's annual congress by hours to join Donald Trump's tour of the Gulf. Eight European Fifa council members, including the FA chairwoman Debbie Hewitt and Uefa's president Aleksander Ceferin, plus other European delegates, did not return to the Fifa congress in Asunción after a coffee break. It is understood that this was an agreed action to register their disapproval. Sources said there was widespread anger among the leaders of national associations in Europe and other parts of the world that the long-planned congress had been disrupted by Infantino's desire to join the US president's meetings with the political leaders of Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Infantino's delayed arrival on
New York Times
05-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
UK set to launch hosting bid for 2035 Women's World Cup
The United Kingdom is planning a bid to host the 2035 Women's World Cup. The Football Association's of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have announced their intention to submit a collective expression of interest to hold the tournament, which if successful would mark the first time the UK has hosted the Women's World Cup. Advertisement The bidding process for the 2035 competition was launched at a FIFA Council meeting on Wednesday, with football's international governing body inviting member associations affiliated to UEFA or the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to bid for the tournament. The joint UK bid for 2035 appears to pave the way for the U.S. and Mexico to host the tournament in 2031. FIFA say a decision on the host nations for both 2031 and 2035 is anticipated in 2026. UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer said: 'The FIFA Women's World Cup 2035 on home turf would be another monumental moment in our sporting history, driving growth and leaving a lasting legacy. The Football Association (FA)'s intention to bid has my government's full support.' UK Sport, the government-funded agency responsible for leading major sporting event hosting, announced in March 2024 that the Women's World Cup had been identified as one of 70 major sports events the UK could aim to hold by 2040. The 2031, 2035 or 2039 Women's World Cups were earmarked as potential targets, and speaking in 2023, English Football Association chairwoman Debbie Hewitt described the possibility of England hosting the 2031 tournament as a 'very attractive proposition'. However, U.S. Soccer and the Mexican Soccer Federation announced in April their intention to lodge a joint bid for the 2031 tournament. The two federations withdrew their bid for the 2027 World Cup to instead focus on 2031. The Athletic reported in May that England were considering pivoting away from 2031, with a joint home nations bid a possibility. GO DEEPER Why U.S./Mexico pivoted from 2027 women's World Cup to 'record-breaking' bid for 2031 FIFA confirmed at Wednesday's meeting that member associations from CAF and Concacaf are invited to bid for the 2031 edition. By the time the 2035 World Cup comes around, the tournament could have been expanded to 48 teams, with The Athletic reporting in December the possibility of expansion was being explored by FIFA. Advertisement The Women's World Cup was most recently increased from 24 teams to 32 ahead of the 2023 tournament in Australia and New Zealand, but some member associations are lobbying for it to be brought in line with the men's competition, which has increased to 48 teams for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. England hosted the Men's World Cup in 1966 and unsuccessfully bid to host the 2018 tournament. A joint United Kingdom and Ireland bid for the 2030 tournament was dropped in 2022, instead turning their attentions to the bid for Euro 2028, which was ultimately successful. England has twice hosted a senior women's international major football tournament, staging the Euros in 2022 and 2005. Should the bid be successful, it would mark the first major women's tournament hosted in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. ()
