FIFA president Gianni Infantino has responded sharply to critics of the World Cup, accusing opponents of spreading hostility and misleading claims while insisting the tournament was a genuine success marked by togetherness, security and inclusion.
Key takeaways
- Infantino defended the World Cup as a celebration of unity, safety and inclusion.
- He claimed the competition saw no violence or incidents and delivered “100%” security.
- Criticism during the tournament included U.S. visa issues affecting supporters and officials.
- He also addressed controversy surrounding disciplinary processes, including the handling of Folarin Balogun’s red-card ban.
- Infantino argued that refereeing and disciplinary calls under fire are common across major leagues.
- He cited travel and entry restrictions involving teams and officials from several politically and medically strained regions, including Somalia’s referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan.
Infantino’s open-letter rebuttal
In an open letter, Infantino—56—said detractors had failed to recognise the atmosphere felt by millions of fans worldwide who attended the tournament, which was won by Spain and held across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“You were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all,” Infantino said.
He added that while critics were writing from behind their desks and screens, FIFA was working on the ground to produce what he called the best show in world football.
“We experienced no violence, no incidents, 100% safety and security, only joy and happiness!” he wrote.
Visa disputes, disciplinary controversy and refereeing debate
FIFA faced criticism during the tournament on several fronts. One major flashpoint was debate over U.S. visa restrictions that affected supporters and members of delegations from multiple countries. There were also concerns raised about teams connected to regions affected by conflict.
Infantino’s letter came after additional attention was directed at FIFA’s handling of the disciplinary matter involving Folarin Balogun. The striker had been given a standard automatic one-match suspension after a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the ban was later suspended following the involvement of U.S. president Donald Trump.
There was also intense scrutiny of officiating in Argentina’s match against Egypt, with supporters and pundits engaging in broad debate over key decisions.
Although Infantino did not point to specific incidents, he argued that the criticised refereeing and disciplinary outcomes seen during the tournament were familiar in competitions around the world.
“Potentially mistaken red or yellow cards or subsequent decisions not to ban players in certain situations are routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide,” he said.
He then questioned the logic of countries using similar practices and yet criticising the tournament.
“It’s curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising.”
Football as a bridge amid political and health challenges
Infantino pointed to the presence of nations dealing with political tensions, domestic turmoil and domestic health emergencies as support for his view that football can rise above divisions.
He referenced Iran’s participation occurring in the shadow of conflict between Iran and the U.S., and highlighted attention surrounding Haiti’s internal crisis and the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In each case, he said the issues drew attention to visa and travel restrictions.
Somali World Cup referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was reportedly prevented from entering the United States despite holding a valid visa.
Infantino said Iran entered the U.S. without incident or conflict, and that the Iranian team received visas because, in his view, football is about peace rather than politics.
“Iran entered the United States without incident or conflict. The Iranian team received visas to enter because football is about peace. It’s not about politics,” he said.
He added that visas were also granted to countries facing serious health problems or other major challenges.
Infantino concluded by urging respect for the teams that played, arguing that if football brought Haiti to global attention—despite many people being unable to visit or choosing not to—the moment may be right for critics to set aside hostility and show consideration for the tournament’s participants.
“When football brought Haiti to the world, a country that many cannot or choose not to visit, it might be time to set aside your pens and keyboards and show some respect to the teams that played.”
