The Bermuda Football Association has revealed details of the meeting hijacked by Fifa president Gianni Infantino in the Dominican Republic last week.

BFA president Mark Wade was one of the game’s regional leaders present at a Caribbean Football Union presidents meeting, which Infantino attended despite being told he was not welcome at the CFU Under-14 Challenge Series event by Concacaf president Victor Montagliani.

In a press release yesterday, the BFA revealed that Infantino’s presence received a mixed response from CFU leaders.

“President Infantino’s attendance was unexpected and generated a range of reactions among the CFU presidents present,” the BFA said.

“His participation nevertheless provided an important opportunity for member association leaders to engage directly with both Fifa and Concacaf leadership on recent developments and matters of concern to the region.

“The discussions were described as frank, candid and meaningful. A strong and consistent view expressed by the presidents was that good governance, due process and transparency must remain fundamental pillars of football administration at every level of leadership within the football family.”

Infantino’s presence took some of the gloss over the original intention of the meeting, which was to discuss the strategic direction of the CFU, analyse football within the region and take a look at the landscape of match officials in the Caribbean.

“The regional football analysis provided a candid assessment of the challenges facing Caribbean football, particularly the region’s limited hosting of important development tournaments when compared with other confederations,” the BFA said.

“Travel logistics and funding were identified as significant contributing factors. The meeting also highlighted concerns regarding the development and representation of Caribbean match officials at the highest levels of international football.

“The current landscape underscores the importance of continued investment in referee development, opportunities and pathways throughout the region.

“A key highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the CFU’s strategic plan, which outlined the union’s strategic direction and priorities through a video presentation.”

Wade, in his capacity as chairman of the CFU Referees Committee, discussed matters relating to the region’s match officials and referee development.

He also attended the CFU Under-14 Challenge Series Tier 1 and Tier 2 finals, providing an opportunity to observe the next generation of Caribbean football talent and support the continued development of youth football across the region.

Bermudian referee Sar Smith and match commissioner Jibri Smith also gained valuable experience at the tournament.

In closing, the BFA said: “the BFA remains committed to engaging constructively with regional and international football bodies while advocating for strong governance, increased development opportunities and greater investment in the continued growth of football in Bermuda and throughout the Caribbean.”