Infantino lashes out at media and critics in 15-page post, calls 2026 World Cup '100% safety'

Published Jul 27, 06:49 AM UTC

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, 56, issued a sharp 15-page Instagram statement after the 2026 World Cup, accusing media and critics of spreading 'hate' and 'false rumors' instead of recognizing the tournament's positive aspects. He defended FIFA's work, claiming '100 percent safety, only joy and happiness,' and urged critics to 'meditate, pray, or watch a soccer game.' The outburst follows controversies including visa denials for Somali referee Omar Artan, exorbitant ticket prices, and the Balogun case where US President Donald Trump intervened to lift a red card suspension. Infantino dismissed criticism of referee decisions as common in major leagues. The post garnered over 16,000 likes within six hours, with comments disabled.

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