FIFA president Gianni Infantino has strongly defended the World Cup and rebuked critics, accusing them of spreading hate and false rumours while insisting the tournament brought only joy and happiness.
In an open letter published Monday, Infantino called on detractors to take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray, following a tournament fraught with controversies, including ticket pricing and visa issues.
Sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all, Infantino wrote in a statement shared on his Instagram and FIFA’s official platforms.
He continued: 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.
We experienced no violence, no incidents, 100% safety and security, only joy and happiness!
The build-up to the tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States was overshadowed by concerns over high ticket prices, geopolitical tensions, ongoing conflicts, and the threat of extreme summer heat across the host nations.
Iran’s participation, set against the backdrop of war with the United States, and worries about Haiti’s domestic crisis and the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, brought renewed scrutiny to visa and travel restrictions.
Somali referee Omar Artan was among the most prominent figures affected by President Donald Trump’s strict immigration policies, as he was denied entry into the United States.
Nonetheless, Infantino defended FIFA’s handling of these challenges.
While you spread hatred, we worked tirelessly to unite two countries at war. Iran entered the United States without incident or conflict, he said. The Iranian team received visas to enter because football is about peace. It’s not about politics.
Infantino also noted that nations facing health crises or other serious challenges were granted visas to participate.
