Fifa president Gianni Infantino has launched a fierce defence of the World Cup held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, accusing critics of “spreading hate and false rumours” and insisting the tournament showcased unity, security and inclusion.
In an open letter released on Monday, the 56-year-old said many commentators had ignored what he described as an overwhelmingly positive event, highlighted by Spain’s triumph, and instead focused on controversy and negativity.
“You were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all,” Infantino wrote, arguing that millions of supporters around the world had experienced “joy and togetherness” that his detractors had chosen not to see.
He added: “To those behind their pens and papers, behind their screens spreading hate and false rumours, I want to say that while you are sitting behind, we at Fifa are on the front lines organising, working hard, and delivering the best show in the world.
“We experienced no violence, no incidents, 100% safety and security, only joy and happiness!”
Response to criticism over visas, conflict and discipline
The World Cup faced sustained scrutiny on a series of fronts, including disputes over United States visa rules that affected fans and officials from a number of countries, and questions around teams arriving from regions facing conflict and severe internal crises.
Infantino’s intervention comes after Fifa was heavily criticised for its handling of the disciplinary case involving Folarin Balogun. The United States forward was shown a red card in a match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which under standard rules carries an automatic one-match suspension.
That ban was subsequently lifted following the intervention of US President Donald Trump, a move that prompted concerns over political influence and consistency in Fifa’s application of its own regulations.
Refereeing decisions in Argentina’s game against Egypt also sparked extensive debate among supporters and analysts, adding to a wider discussion about the standard and consistency of officiating during the tournament.
‘Routine’ decisions and double standards, says Infantino
Although Infantino did not name individual matches, players or incidents in his letter, he argued that many refereeing and disciplinary calls criticised at the World Cup were no different from decisions routinely accepted in other major competitions.
“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 wrote.
“It’s curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising.”
Infantino suggested that some of the outrage directed at Fifa was selective and failed to acknowledge how similar decisions are managed in domestic and continental football.
Football as ‘peace’, not politics
The Fifa president also cited the participation of countries dealing with political tensions, internal instability and public health emergencies as proof, in his view, that football can bridge divisions rather than deepen them.
He highlighted Iran’s presence at a tournament staged partly in the United States, despite the wider conflict between the two countries. He said the Iranian squad obtained visas and entered the US without incident, framing this as an example of football’s capacity to transcend political dispute.
“Iran entered the US without incident or conflict. The Iranian team received visas to enter because football is about peace. It’s not about politics,” he said.
Infantino pointed as well to Haiti, where a deep domestic crisis has drawn international concern, and to the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has faced an Ebola outbreak. The participation of teams and officials from such countries, he argued, showed that “countries facing serious health issues or other challenges were granted visas”.
One of the starkest cases involved Somali World Cup referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was blocked from entering the United States despite holding what Infantino described as a valid visa. The incident underlined the tensions around border control and eligibility that surrounded the tournament.
Infantino concluded his letter by urging critics to recognise what he believes the competition represented for players and supporters from around the globe.
“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,” he wrote, maintaining that the narrative of the World Cup should focus on participation and unity rather than hostility and suspicion.
