Missed appointments
Hours too late: FIFA president has delegates wait
15.05.2025 – 7:06 p.m.Reading time: 1 min.
Gianni Infantino should actually appear at a certain time at a FIFA congress. But it turned out very differently.
The FIFA Congress in Paraguay’s capital Asunción started with a clear delay. Reason: a long delay by President Gianni Infantino.
The meeting was only able to start almost three and a half hours after the planned start at 9.30 a.m. (2.30 p.m. CEST). Delegates from 211 member associations sometimes waited several hours for the FIFA boss. In pictures it could be seen how Infantino left the airport over a red carpet after landing. He initially did not give up an explanation for his delay.
The 55-year-old came from the Middle East with a private jet, but did not arrive in Asunción in time. Before his flight to South America, the head of the world association had perceived appointments in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, among other things-he accompanied US President Donald Trump.
As several media report, the jet had made a stopover in Nigeria with the flight number QE205 in the morning. While the flight was still in the air, the congress should have already started. Only shortly before noon did the machine set up in Paraguay’s capital.
A delegation from Germany is also on site. It is led by the DFB President Bernd Neuendorf. The 63-year-old belongs to the FIFA Council. A planned meeting of the committee had to be preferred and carried out online due to the travel planning.