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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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\ufeffGet all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cToday 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,\u201d he said at the time.<\/p>\n The Swiss football administrator went on to attack journalists and human rights ambassadors who had raised their concerns about Qatar.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cTo 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,\u201d the 56-year-old said. <\/p>\n \u201cSorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo 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 \u200cthe best show in the \u200cworld,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile you hide, we are exploring the streets of Canada, Mexico and the United States, talking with fans, engaging with people, and ensuring everyone\u2019s safety. While you divide, we unite. People came together as families, as fans, as one.<\/p>\n \u201cWe experienced no violence, no incidents, 100% safety and security, only joy and happiness.\u201d<\/p>\n Infantino\u2019s comments have understandably not sat well with human rights groups.<\/p>\n FIFA\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cInfantino\u2019s score-settling rant further underscores his unfitness to govern world football,\u201d Nicholas McGeehan, director and co-founder of human rights organisation FairSquare, told Telegraph Sport<\/a>. \u201cHe is cosseted by yes-men inside the organisation and divorced from the reality of his unpopularity outside of it.\u201d<\/p>\n There were safety issues during the tournament with four fans dying in Mexico City as they were crushed by crowds celebrating the co-host\u2019s Round of 32 victory against Ecuador.<\/p>\n While visa problems were front and centre in the lead-up to the tournament.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n Transfer Latest \u2014 $39m-a-year deal that could rock PL; record at risk again in Reds blockbuster<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \ufeffMessi\u2019s team went from champs to \u2018pitiful\u2019 thugs. Winning the WC again would\u2019ve \u2018felt like a crime\u2019<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018Bro thinks he\u2019s on the team\u2019: Trump refuses to leave stage in painful World Cup moment<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Iran\u2019s 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 \u201cdisaster\u201d.<\/p>\n But Infantino believes that the tournament avoided any messy situation from the US and Iran being at war with one another.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile you spread hatred, we worked tirelessly to unite two countries at war. Iran entered the United States without incident or conflict,\u201d he claimed. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen 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. <\/p>\n \u201cThe Iranian team received visas to enter because football is about peace. It\u2019s not about politics. Football is about unity, not division. Football is bigger than hate and discrimination.\u201d<\/p>\n Somali referee Omar Artan having his visa rejected after 11 hours of interrogation by US immigration officials also sparked outrage before the tournament began.<\/p>\n Artan is a highly respected referee, having been selected by UEFA to officiate next month\u2019s UEFA Super Cup clash between Champions League winners PSG and Europa League champions Aston Villa.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery few hours, it\u2019s another story about fans denied, player denied, officials denied, journalists denied, now refs,\u201d former England striker Ian Wright said on Instagram at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m laughing but it\u2019s not funny. It\u2019s actually not funny and something has to be said. The most expensive tickets ever, expensive accommodation, transport through the roof.<\/p>\n \u201cIs 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?<\/p>\n \u201cI feel for the American fans who are desperate for this, how embarrassed they must be. How embarrassing for them this must be.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a World Cup of chaos.\u201d<\/p>\n Infantino, on the other hand, believes everyone was focusing on the wrong side of the visa situation.<\/p>\n \u201cYou mentioned the few people denied visas and overlooked the millions who were approved, from all parts of the world,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cBecause football unites the world, and it was demonstrated impressively this summer.\u201d<\/p>\n Infantino was also eager to dismiss the uproar surrounding US President Donald Trump\u2019s intervention to overturn USA striker Folarin Balogun\u2019s red card.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The pair have been allies for several years with Infantino even setting up FIFA\u2019s offices for the tournament in Trump Tower in New York.<\/p>\n Once again, he brushed off the anger.<\/p>\n \u201cPotentially 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising.\u201d<\/p>\n This is unlikely to be the final chapter in Infantino\u2019s relationship with Trump, however.<\/p>\n 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 \u201ca 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.\u201d<\/p>\n