FIFA President’s tardiness triggers UEFA backlash at Congress

PARIS :European soccer's governing body UEFA hit out at FIFA president Gianni Infantino after his late arrival at the world body's Congress in Asuncion led to a delayed start on Thursday.

The FIFA Congress opened more than two hours later than planned after Infantino's flight landed late in Paraguay, following his Middle East trip accompanying U.S. president Donald Trump on state visits.

Infantino opened the Congress at 12:47 local time (1547 GMT), two hours and 17 minutes later than scheduled.

Some UEFA delegates did not return after the break.

"The last minute changes to the timings of the FIFA Congress are deeply regrettable," UEFA said in a statement to Reuters.

"The FIFA Congress is one of the most important meetings in world football, where all the 211 nations in the world's game gather to discuss issues that affect the sport right across the world.

"Our hosts, the Paraguay FA and our partners at CONMEBOL, had gone to considerable effort to accommodate so many delegates and we thank them for their hospitality," the statement added, before targeting Infantino's personal agenda.

"But to have the timetable changed at the last minute for what appears to be simply to accommodate private political interests, does the game no service and appears to put its interests second," it said.

"We are all in post to serve football; from the streets to the podium, and UEFA members of the FIFA Council felt the need on this occasion to make a point that the game comes first and to leave as originally scheduled."

Members of the CONCACAF delegation also left early.

"I had some of my people sprinting out of here, so I don't know exactly what the reason was, but I'm assuming it had to do with travel," CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani said.

Mat