Infantino to Critics: 'Meditate, Pray, or Watch Football'
Infantino to Critics: 'Meditate, Pray, or Watch Football'
FIFA President Gianni Infantino fires back at World Cup critics, suggesting they "meditate, pray, or watch a football match" instead of spreading "hate and false rumours." Get the full story on this defiant stance!
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has made headlines with an astonishing outburst, urging critics of him and the recent World Cup to “meditate, pray or watch a football match” rather than “spreading hate and false rumours.” His comments reflect a deep-seated grievance he seemingly holds against the scrutiny FIFA has faced regarding the tournament.
Infantino appears to believe that FIFA has not received sufficient credit for successfully staging a World Cup that saw record ticket sales, entertained millions globally, and managed a massive security operation despite a complex geopolitical landscape. This defiant posture also hints at a strong sense of confidence in his leadership and his prospects for re-election next year.
However, many observers view Infantino's reaction as a move that risks reinforcing the perception that FIFA is either unwilling or unable to tolerate legitimate scrutiny. By portraying critics as negative, biased, and unfair “haters,” he might be deepening the impression that the organization is out of touch. The tournament was indeed accompanied by several controversies that made scrutiny inevitable.
These issues included concerns over US visa policies, which cast a shadow on claims of it being the most welcoming World Cup ever. Fans also faced unprecedented costs. There was an outcry over FIFA's suspension of Folarin Balogun's ban following lobbying efforts by then-US President Trump, sparking worries about political interference despite FIFA’s denials. Innovations like hydration breaks and an unusually long 27-minute half-time show for the final also drew attention, alongside discussions about the environmental impact of what was described as the biggest and longest World Cup ever.
Infantino had previously held a media conference on the eve of the tournament, his first in three years, where he advised critics to “chill & relax.” Had he conducted another press briefing after the event, or closer to its conclusion, he might have addressed these issues more proactively, potentially avoiding a response that many now interpret as evidence of a growing “siege mentality” within FIFA.
