With just one week to go before the final whistle of the World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino decided to fan the flames of controversy and fiercely attack his detractors. Far from engaging in self-criticism, the head of world football posted an angry 900-word statement across 15 slides on Instagram, in which he accused his critics of “spreading hate and false rumors.”
While patting himself on the back for “delivering the best show in the world,” Infantino took a venomous jab at the press: “I’m sorry that they were so consumed by hatred and criticism that they missed out on everything.” His message was directed squarely at “those behind their pens and papers, behind their screens.”
The scandals FIFA wants you to forget
The inflammatory statement is clearly a smokescreen to divert attention from the serious controversies that marred the tournament’s 104 matches. Infantino was harshly questioned over:
- Influence peddling: The alleged political interference by U.S. President Donald Trump to prevent American forward Folarin Balogun from serving a red-card suspension.
- Immigration chaos: The denial of entry into the United States to Iranian team officials, a Somali referee, and fans.
- Pure greed: The historically high and unprecedented ticket prices.
- Commercialized football: The unprecedented commercial breaks introduced midway through each half.
Far from apologizing, Infantino dared to respond: “While you were celebrating, (the critics) were busy sowing seeds of hatred.”
The shadow of Trump and the U.S. Congress.
Infantino’s relationship with the press is becoming increasingly toxic in his eleventh year in office. After telling journalists to “relax” in Mexico City and asking “Why are you so mean?” in Rwanda, he’s now in deep water.
Maryland Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin has put FIFA under the microscope of the U.S. Congress, sending a letter demanding documents detailing the exact ties between football’s governing body and the Trump administration.
The Cynicism in the ‘Balogun Case’ and the Visa Crisis
Regarding the blatant favoritism toward the United States following Balogun’s expulsion, Infantino justified the decision not to suspend players as “routine.” The reality is that FIFA took the unusual step of postponing the punishment to a “probationary period,” without even having published the disciplinary judge’s written verdict yet.
As if that weren’t enough, Infantino proclaimed himself a hero of peace when speaking about the Iranian team, which had to move its training camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico. “We worked tirelessly to bring together two countries at war,” he boasted.
When addressing the scandalous case of the iconic Congolese fan Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, who was denied a visa to enter the U.S., Infantino downplayed the situation by arguing that “they overlooked the millions who were approved.”
After inviting his critics to “meditate and pray,” the FIFA president concluded his media tantrum with a phrase tinged with irony: “Much love to everyone.”
