Infantino’s social media response
Gianni Infantino, the president of Fifa, has responded to criticism regarding his leadership and the recent World Cup through a 15-slide post on his personal Instagram account. This post was subsequently shared with Fifa‘s eight million followers. In his message, Infantino suggested that critics should “meditate, pray or watch a football match” instead of “spreading hate and false rumours.”
He asserted that Fifa was actively “organising, working hard, and delivering the best show in the world,” while those behind screens were “spreading hate and false rumours.” Infantino, reportedly a 56-year-old man, expressed regret that some individuals were “so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all.” He also stated that the World Cup “celebrated humanity at its best” and featured “100% safety and security, only joy and happiness.”
Controversies and diplomatic claims
Infantino downplayed several high-profile controversies surrounding the tournament. He highlighted the involvement of Iran, a country in ongoing conflict with co-host the United States, as a success, stating that Fifa “worked tirelessly to unite two countries at war.”
However, these comments contrast with statements from Iran‘s head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, who described his team as the “most oppressed” at the World Cup. Iran reportedly faced visa delays, with some “integral” backroom staff members denied entry to the US. Fans also had ticket allocations revoked, and the team had to relocate its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, due to logistical issues. They later also encountered rest…
Similar issues affected fans from Haiti, Senegal, and Ivory Coast due to travel bans. Additionally, Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the US despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single-entry US visa, reportedly due to his “association with suspected members of terror organisations.” Infantino acknowledged that “few people denied visas” but emphasized the “millions who were approved, from all parts of the world.”
The Fifa president also addressed criticism regarding officiating standards, particularly concerns about political interference. This included the decision to make USA forward Folarin Balogun available for a last-16 tie after his one-match ban was suspended by Fifa. This decision followed an intervention by US President Donald Trump. Uefa described this ruling as “unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustifiable,” and the Norwegian Football Federation is considering filing a formal complaint.
Infantino, however, maintained that such decisions are not unusual, claiming similar rulings are “routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide.” He added that it is “curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising.”
Ongoing investigations and reflections
Despite Infantino‘s claims of “zero incidents, zero violence, just joy, emotions, happiness, unity, and togetherness,” Fifa is investigating Argentina‘s actions following altercations between players and backroom staff after a final. Allegations of racist abuse towards American social media influencer IShowSpeed are also under investigation, and supporters were arrested at multiple matches, including after England‘s semi-final against Argentina in Atlanta.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials were also present at World Cup stadiums. The International Olympic Committee has stated it will not investigate Infantino for potential breaches of political neutrality, as a complaint from human rights group FairSquare falls outside its ethics commission’s jurisdiction.
Infantino concluded his message by urging opponents “to show some love” and “respect” for a tournament where “people came together as families, as fans, as one.” He expressed pride in his contribution to the event, stating, “It’s a great feeling.”
A top Democrat on the House judiciary committee has launched an investigation into the Fifa president and his ties with the actual president. Infantino denies caving to repeated interference from Donald Trump regarding the decision to make Folarin Balogun available for the US‘s last-16 tie.
Infantino‘s social media activity has been compared to that of other public figures who use their platforms to outline philosophies or engage in geopolitical discussions. Entertainment data analysts Luminate reported that 39% of Americans identified as content creators, with Goldman Sachs forecasting over 100 million people globally in this category in the coming years.
Infantino‘s previous statements include an hour-long address ahead of the World Cup in Qatar, where he invited criticism directly, saying, “You want to criticise someone, come to me. Criticise me. Here I am. Crucify me.” He also claimed to have “worked tirelessly to unite two countries at war,” a diplomatic victory he announced in a recent diatribe.
Source: theguardian.com
