Uefa accuses Infantino of pursuing ‘private interests’ on Trump’s Gulf tour

Fifa boss arrives late at congress from US president’s trip

Gianni Infantino with Donald Trump and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha this week. Pic: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Uefa has accused the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, of pursuing “personal political interests” ahead of his responsibilities to football. The shock intervention from European football’s governing body came after several national delegates walked out on the annual Fifa congress earlier on Thursday.

The delegates, who included the president of Uefa, Alexander Ceferin, and the chair of the Football Association, Debbie Hewitt, did so in protest at alterations to the meeting’s schedule, caused by Infantino arriving late to proceedings after accompanying Donald Trump on a tour of Gulf states.