The FIFA annual congress in Paraguay was thrown into disarray on Thursday as several European football leaders staged a walkout in protest of FIFA President Gianni Infantino's late arrival.

The incident highlighted growing tensions and concerns about leadership priorities within the global football governing body.

Infantino's arrival was delayed by several hours, pushing back the scheduled 10:30 am start time. He had been on a trip to the Middle East, meeting with key figures from Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The delay sparked immediate and vocal displeasure among those who left the congress; they were eight European members of the FIFA Council, including UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and Debbie Hewitt, the chair of the Football Association.

"The delayed arrival of the FIFA president is disappointing. The annual congress is the single most important body to ensure good governance of international football, expecting professional leadership and dialogue at the highest level. I understand the frustration and disappointment," she said.

Infantino apologised for the significant delay, attributing it to flight issues. He defended his Middle East trip, asserting its importance for representing football at crucial political discussions.

"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," Infantino explained.

The late arrival also came shortly after Infantino's appearance at a White House meeting regarding the 2026 World Cup.