Tensions over leadership and governance at FIFA reached a boiling point over the weekend, when several European delegates staged a dramatic walkout at the world football governing body's annual congress in Asunción, Paraguay.

Their protest was triggered by the late arrival of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who showed up nearly three hours after the scheduled start time of 10:30 a.m.

Infantino’s absence from the start of proceedings came after he prioritized a political tour in the Middle East, including meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump and leaders from Qatar and Saudi Arabia — hosts of the 2022 and 2034 World Cups respectively, as well as stakeholders in FIFA’s future tournaments.

The walkout involved eight key European members of the FIFA Council — FIFA’s principal decision-making body — including UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and Football Association Chair Debbie Hewitt. Among the most outspoken critics was Norway Football Federation President Lise Klaveness, who called Infantino’s absence “disappointing” and “concerning,” stressing that the congress is central to ensuring transparency and good governance in global football.

“Two hundred and ten member associations have traveled from all over the world to participate in this Congress,” Klaveness said in a statement.

“They expect professionalism, leadership, and dialogue — not disregard.”

The visibly frustrated delegates demanded an explanation from FIFA for what they consider an unacceptable breach of decorum.

Their protest highlights growing discomfort among member associations over Infantino’s increasingly politicized leadership style and globe-trotting diplomacy — often at the expense of internal accountability.

Infantino finally arrived around 1:30 p.m. and offered repeated apologies, citing flight complications.

He defended his Middle East meetings as necessary diplomatic engagements to advance football’s global interests, saying, “As president of FIFA, my responsibility is to make decisions in the interests of the organization.”

The FIFA president had just returned from meetings with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Earlier in the week, Infantino had attended a session at the White House with U.S. Vice-President JD Vance and former President Trump, as part of the 2026 World Cup task force.

That event stirred controversy after Trump administration officials made controversial remarks about World Cup visitors. Vice President Vance, flanked by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, joked that fans who overstay their visas would face arrest — a comment many interpreted as threatening and out of touch, especially given past human rights criticisms tied to the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

Attempting to address the backlash, Infantino told FIFA delegates in Paraguay that all genuine visitors would be welcome at future tournaments, including this year’s FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S. “But those who want to create trouble,” he added, “are not welcome — not in football, not anywhere.”

Despite the attempts to soothe tensions, the fallout from Infantino’s absence and the walkout underscores a growing divide within FIFA’s leadership. His alignment with controversial political figures and states has raised questions over whether the global football body is prioritizing geopolitical influence over its own democratic principles.