FIFA President Gianni Infantino has unloaded on critics of the World Cup, accusing the media of spread false narratives and hailing the recently concluded tournament as a raging success.
In a stunning 887-word, 15-part rant posted on Instagram, Infantino added several more astonishing quotes to his already extensive catalogue as he addressed several of the big issues that arose during the World Cup held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
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Infantino stunned the world before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar when he addressed human rights concerns in staggering fashion during a press conference in Doha.
“Today I feel Qatari. Today I feel Arabic. Today I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today I feel disabled. Today I feel a migrant worker,” he said at the time.
The Swiss football administrator went on to attack journalists and human rights ambassadors who had raised their concerns about Qatar.
Infantino dived into the same problematic on Monday as he once again took aim at those who had called out the problematic aspects of the World Cup won by Spain a little more than a week ago.
“To everyone who missed our beautiful game, the emotions, the celebrations, the laughter, the crying, the deception and the joy. To all of you who missed watching kids, babies, grandparents and parents come together for the beautiful game, I say sorry that the matches are now over and sorry that you missed all that joy and togetherness,” the 56-year-old said.
“Sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all.”
“To those behind their pens and papers, behind their screens spreading hate and false rumours, I want to say that while you are sitting behind, we at FIFA are on the front lines organising, working hard, and delivering the best show in the world,” he added.
“While you hide, we are exploring the streets of Canada, Mexico and the United States, talking with fans, engaging with people, and ensuring everyone’s safety. While you divide, we unite. People came together as families, as fans, as one.
“We experienced no violence, no incidents, 100% safety and security, only joy and happiness.”
Infantino’s comments have understandably not sat well with human rights groups.
FIFA’s next congress is in March with Infantino putting his name forward for a fourth term, but human rights leaders believe he is unfit to continue as head of the governing body.
“Infantino’s score-settling rant further underscores his unfitness to govern world football,” Nicholas McGeehan, director and co-founder of human rights organisation FairSquare, told Telegraph Sport. “He is cosseted by yes-men inside the organisation and divorced from the reality of his unpopularity outside of it.”
There were safety issues during the tournament with four fans dying in Mexico City as they were crushed by crowds celebrating the co-host’s Round of 32 victory against Ecuador.
While visa problems were front and centre in the lead-up to the tournament.
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Iran’s national team were forced to fly in and out of the US for their match with their captain Mehdi Taremi saying the World Cup was “disaster”.
But Infantino believes that the tournament avoided any messy situation from the US and Iran being at war with one another.
“While you spread hatred, we worked tirelessly to unite two countries at war. Iran entered the United States without incident or conflict,” he claimed.
“When the Iranian team began playing, all the chants against them turned into a single song. The fans became the country, they became the team, and they stood behind Team Melli. This is the power of football.
“The Iranian team received visas to enter because football is about peace. It’s not about politics. Football is about unity, not division. Football is bigger than hate and discrimination.”
Somali referee Omar Artan having his visa rejected after 11 hours of interrogation by US immigration officials also sparked outrage before the tournament began.
Artan is a highly respected referee, having been selected by UEFA to officiate next month’s UEFA Super Cup clash between Champions League winners PSG and Europa League champions Aston Villa.
“Every few hours, it’s another story about fans denied, player denied, officials denied, journalists denied, now refs,” former England striker Ian Wright said on Instagram at the time.
“I’m laughing but it’s not funny. It’s actually not funny and something has to be said. The most expensive tickets ever, expensive accommodation, transport through the roof.
“Is this how the hosts behave for the greatest game, the greatest tournament in the world? Are we not hearing more? Are we seeing how Qatar got dragged, are we not hearing more? Is this the spirit of football, really?
“I feel for the American fans who are desperate for this, how embarrassed they must be. How embarrassing for them this must be.
“This is a World Cup of chaos.”
Infantino, on the other hand, believes everyone was focusing on the wrong side of the visa situation.
“You mentioned the few people denied visas and overlooked the millions who were approved, from all parts of the world,” he said.
“Because football unites the world, and it was demonstrated impressively this summer.”
Infantino was also eager to dismiss the uproar surrounding US President Donald Trump’s intervention to overturn USA striker Folarin Balogun’s red card.
Balogun was sent off in the Round of 32 against Bosnia-Herzegovina but was cleared to play against Belgium in the Round of 13 after Trump called Infantino and asked him to reassess the ban.
The pair have been allies for several years with Infantino even setting up FIFA’s offices for the tournament in Trump Tower in New York.
Once again, he brushed off the anger.
“Potentially mistaken red or yellow cards or subsequent decisions not to ban players in certain situations are routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide,” he said.
“It’s curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising.”
This is unlikely to be the final chapter in Infantino’s relationship with Trump, however.
On the same day as his lengthy statement, US congressman Jamie Raskin has sent a letter to Infantino requesting he appear before the House Judiciary Committee and provide “a list of anything of value (including transfer of money, gifts, prizes, awards, or public appearances) given to President Trump, members of his Administration, or their family members, or any entity associated with them, such as The Trump Organization.”
The Athletic reported that Raskin is unlikely to have the power to ensure Infantino appears before the committee.
But it shows that the level of scrutiny will ramp up if the Democrats take back a majority in the House of Representatives during November’s midterm election.