Members of the FIFA Congress walked out of the meeting on Thursday as a protest against President Gianni Infantino, who delayed the start by several hours due to a trip to the Middle East that included meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The annual gathering held in Asuncion, Paraguay, was originally scheduled for 9:30 a.m. local time but faced a significant delay until 12:30 p.m. because Infantino’s private jet was still in transit at the meeting’s start time, with a fuel stop in Nigeria included.

Prominent members who left the meeting included UEFA officials, notably UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, indicating disappointment with the handling of the Congress, as highlighted by Norwegian Football Federation President Lise Klaveness, who underlined the importance of this event for global football governance.

Infantino addressed his tardiness, defending his decision to prioritize discussions in the Middle East due to upcoming World Cups hosted in that region and alongside U.S. officials. However, attendees remained dissatisfied, leading to a coordinated exit from the annual session.