FIFA’s Infantino Targets Critics He Says Spread ‘Hate and False Rumors’ About World Cup
Infantino said 7 million fans attended matches and defended FIFA’s handling of visa disputes and the Balogun suspension.
- Fifa president Gianni Infantino dismissed World Cup criticism as "hate and false rumours" in an essay posted on Instagram on Sunday night, describing the tournament as an unparalleled success.
- Throughout the tournament, Infantino faced intense scrutiny and resignation calls, with controversies including ticket prices, the treatment of Iran, and the refused entry of Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan.
- According to Infantino's claims, 7 million people from over 200 countries enjoyed matches across 16 cities with "100% safety and security" and "zero incidents." The figures emphasized his narrative of tournament success.
- Controversy peaked when USA striker Folarin Balogun's red-card ban was suspended after Trump called Infantino, making him available for the co-hosts' last-16 clash with Belgium.
- The Fifa president's rhetoric mirrored a "Donald Trump-like" style, emphasizing the tension between the organization's official narrative of joy and the reality of external scrutiny over tournament conduct.
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FIFA president said the agency worked "incansibly" to unite countries at war such as Iran and the United States.
Gianni Infantino has increasingly tense relations with the media.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino blasts critics for 'spreading hate'
FIFA president Gianni Infantino rejected scrutiny of his leadership and the organization, accusing critics of "spreading hate and false rumors" while they were "delivering the best show in the world," minimizing or altogether ignoring issues that arose with the 2026 World Cup.
The FIFA president responded to the controversy of the 2026 World Cup, from visa restrictions to the Folarin Balogun case, and assured that the tournament brought together millions of fans.
The leader was questioned during the development of the Orbital tournament that began on 11 June and ended on 19 July.
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