FIFA President Accuses Critics of Spreading Falsehoods After Tournament Ends Zurich — FIFA President Gianni Infantino has lashed out at critics of the recently concluded World Cup, saying they were focused on “hate” and “false rumours” instead of celebrating the tournament. In a 15-slide statement posted on his personal Instagram and shared by FIFA’s official account, Infantino defended FIFA’s organization of the six-week competition hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The two accounts reach a combined audience of over 13 million followers. “While You Spread Hate, We Delivered The Best Show” Infantino said critics hiding behind “pens and keyboards” missed the joy and unity of the event. “To all of you who were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all, I am sorry,” he wrote. “While you sit behind screens spreading hate and false rumours, we at FIFA are on the front lines, working hard and delivering the best show in the world.” He added: “While you divide, we unite. People came together as families, as fans, as one.” Claims of “Zero Incidents” and Record Attendance The FIFA boss highlighted what he called a safe and successful tournament: 7 million fans attended across 16 cities and stadiums Visitors from more than 200 countries “Zero incidents, zero hostility, zero violence” 100% safety and security Infantino also pointed to massive TV viewership and the presence of global celebrities from music, film, and sports who attended matches. He thanked the host governments, police forces, and volunteers for making the event possible. On Politics, Visas, and Iran Infantino cited Iran’s participation in the US as proof that football unites despite political tensions. “When the Iranian team began playing, all the chants against them turned into a single song. The fans became the country,” he said. “Football is about unity, not division. Football is bigger than hate and discrimination.” He also defended the visa process, saying that while a few applications were denied, millions were approved. He mentioned Haiti’s participation as an example of football giving hope to nations facing challenges. Responds to Refereeing Criticism Addressing complaints about refereeing and disciplinary decisions, Infantino said such debates happen in every major league. “Arguable decisions are routine and widely accepted in some of the world’s biggest leagues. It is curious that the same countries criticize here,” he stated. IOC Dismisses Complaint Against Infantino Separately, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Friday it had rejected a complaint filed by human rights group FairSquare against Infantino. The IOC said the matter was outside the jurisdiction of its Ethics Commission. FairSquare had alleged a “repeated breach of political neutrality rules” by the FIFA president. Infantino ended his post by calling for “love, not hate” and “celebration, not mourning.” Post navigation 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Suryavanshi Stars with 81 to Win Player of the Match, India Seal Series vs Zimbabwe Justin Greaves Makes History With Five Wicket-Maidens in a Row for West Indies
