Infantino responds to World Cup critics: “Football is bigger than hate”

The president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, has avoided the criticism directed at the highest organization for the organization of the recent World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, which concluded on July 19 with the victory of Spain, and responded by saying that football is “bigger than the hatred” spread by its detractors.

In a lengthy post on his personal Instagram account, Gianni Infantino said the World Cup was “the highlight” and “celebrated the best of Humanity.”

Likewise, Infantino suggested that critics “take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray or watch a soccer game.” “Our world needs love, not hate; tolerance, not division; celebration, not mourning,” added the FIFA president, who highlighted the peaceful atmosphere that reigned in the 16 venues and the billions of fans who had followed the tournament.

“I’m sorry that the games are over now and I’m sorry that you missed all that joy and that spirit of togetherness. I’m sorry that you were so consumed by hatred and criticism that you missed it all,” Infantino snapped at critics.

Likewise, the head of world football stated that while critics spread “hatred”, FIFA worked “tirelessly to unite countries at war.” “Iran entered the United States without incident or conflict,” he said, without mentioning the Iranian team’s criticism of the visa restrictions imposed by the US authorities or the entry ban on the Somali referee designated for the World Cup, Omar Artan.

Infantino also avoided commenting on criticism of the refereeing and disciplinary issues, which culminated in the annulment of the expulsion of the American player Folarin Balogun after the intervention of the president of the United States, Donald Trump.

In this sense, he described it as “curious” that the criticism came from countries where similar practices are “common and widely accepted.” “Football is synonymous with unity, not division. Football is bigger than hatred and discrimination. I feel incredibly proud to have contributed my grain of sand,” he concluded.