FIFA President Gianni Infantino issued a sharp response to criticism regarding the World Cup, stating that critics are spreading 'hate and false rumors,' while the tournament brought 'only joy and happiness.'
Addressing the Criticism
In an open letter published on Monday, Infantino called on those who expressed dissatisfaction to 'take a moment for reflection, meditation, prayer' after the tournament, which was accompanied by various controversial moments, including ticket pricing and visa issues.
He wrote in a post on his Instagram account and on official FIFA channels: 'I am sorry that you were so absorbed in hatred and criticism that you missed all of this.' Infantino emphasized that while critics sat behind their screens, FIFA staff were on the front lines, organizing and working diligently to create the best show in the world, noting the complete absence of violence and incidents, as well as 100% safety.
Visa and Policy Issues
The preparation for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the USA was overshadowed by concerns over inflated prices, geopolitical tension, the threat of conflict, and the risk of severe summer heat in the three host countries. Visa and travel problems intensified amid Iran's participation against the backdrop of the war with the US, as well as due to the crisis in Haiti and the Ebola outbreak in the DRC.
The referee from Somalia, Omar Artan, became one of the most prominent victims of President Donald Trump's strict immigration policy when he was denied entry into the USA. Nevertheless, Infantino defended FIFA's approach to hosting the tournament, stating: 'While you were spreading hate, we were tirelessly working to unite two warring countries. Iran entered the USA without incidents or conflicts.'
He added that the Iranian team received visas because football is about peace, not politics, and that visas were issued to countries facing serious health or other difficulties. Infantino noted that critics only mentioned a small number of people who were denied visas, ignoring millions of approved candidates from around the world.
Team Comments and Refereeing
These statements contrasted with the opinion of Iran's coach Amir Ghalenoei, who stated that his team was the most 'oppressed' at the World Cup. Forward Mehdi Taremi called the treatment of his team a 'disaster.'
Infantino also responded to criticism of the refereeing. He mentioned that Trump personally asked the FIFA president to consider a one-match suspension of American forward Folarin Balogun, which allowed him to play against Belgium in the Round of 16. The European football body UEFA was among the critics of this incident, calling it 'unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustified' and stating that it had 'crossed the red line.'
Responding to the criticism, Infantino stated that disappointment regarding some decisions by competent authorities is understandable, but one should refer to public records: such decisions are common practice in some of the most important leagues. He explained that decisions by 'controversial' referees or 'strange' disciplinary rulings, such as potentially erroneous yellow or red cards or subsequent decisions not to suspend players in certain situations, are routine and widely accepted in some of the largest global leagues. He noted ironically that 'it is interesting that the same countries that use these practices criticize them.'
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