FIFA President Gianni Infantino has directed sharp words toward his detractors, advising them to "meditate, pray or watch a football match" instead of focusing on negativity.
The head of world football's governing body accused his opponents of "spreading hate and false rumours" directed at both him personally and the World Cup.
Why It Matters
Since assuming leadership of FIFA in 2016 in the wake of a massive corruption scandal that ousted former president Sepp Blatter, Infantino has frequently clashed with critics over the governance of global football. The organization has faced sustained scrutiny from human rights organizations, environmental groups, and European football associations over its host selection processes, particularly regarding the 2022 tournament in Qatar and future World Cup bids. Infantino has consistently defended these decisions by framing FIFA's expansion as a way to globalize the sport, often dismissing external criticism as biased or hypocritical.
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