Asunción, Paraguay – Tensions dey high for football world as FIFA president Gianni Infantino late arrival cause big wahala during the FIFA Congress for Paraguay last week. European delegates from UEFA, led by chief Aleksander Ceferin, waka comot in protest when Infantino finally show up two hours behind schedule.
Dem Congress bin scheduled to commence on Thursday, but Infantino dey late due to meetings wey he get for Saudi Arabia and Qatar with U.S. President Donald Trump. This late entry no go down well as e make UEFA representatives, including di Norwegian Football Association president, vex and leave de assembly.
After di protest, UEFA released statement say di relationship between Ceferin and Infantino still dey strong, talking say, “very good,” and dat dis late arrival no represent di way dem dey work together. Dem add say, “di recent episode was isolated and does not reflect our ongoing collaboration.”
Infantino, in response, apologize to di delegates, blaming unnecessary flight problems for di delay. He insist say, attending di Gulf meetings important, especially as dem dey host di 2022 and 2034 World Cups. “As FIFA president, my responsibility na to make decisions wey dey benefit di organization. I believe say I need to be there to represent football and all of you,” he talk.
In di wake of di walkout, UEFA express regret over di disruption, saying it reflect bad prioritization wey favor political interest over di game. Ceferin don oppose Infantino for matters like di plan to hold di World Cup every two years, which dem no go through. He don also describe di idea of a 64-team World Cup come 2030 to celebrate di centenary as a “bad idea.”
Meanwhile, as di anticipation dey build for di 2025 Ballon d’Or, UEFA don change di criteria wey dem go use for di award. Di event go happen on September 22 for di Théâtre du Châtelet for Paris. Dis new criteria go focus on individual performances, collective success, and sportsmanship to determine di best footballer for di year.
Di race for dis year’s award dey wide open, especially after last year’s winner Rodri collect di trophy over Vinicius Jr., despite Real Madrid’s early exit from di Champions League. With di Nations League handy, national teams like Spain, France, and Germany fit influence di final votes. However, players like Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Petri wey no dey participate in di upcoming tournaments might struggle for di spotlight.
Kylian Mbappé, wey no gather major titles for him first season with Real Madrid, dey strongly fight for di Golden Boot and his involvement for di latest tournaments fit increase him chances. In a progressive move, UEFA don announce say all di male awards go get corresponding female versions, promoting gender equality for football recognition.
