Fifa’s Gianni Infantino lashes out at World Cup critics ‘consumed by hate’

{"text":[[{"start":9.14,"text":"Fifa president Gianni Infantino has accused his critics of being “consumed by hate” during the World Cup, and brushed aside complaints about the treatment of Iran’s team and the decision to lift a ban on a US player after pressure from President Donald Trump."}],[{"start":23.56,"text":"Infantino, who has been president of football’s governing body for a decade, has come under fire on several fronts, including high World Cup ticket prices and a lack of transparency over decision making."}],[{"start":35.14,"text":"In a series of Instagram messages on Monday, Infantino lashed out at those who chose to “hide” behind their “pens and papers” and “spread false rumours”. They had missed out on the “emotions, the celebrations, the laughter . . . and the joy” of “the best show in the world”."}],[{"start":51.04,"text":"“Sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all,” he said. “To the pens and papers, to all the screens, may you find love and peace where the people behind you couldn’t . . . we at Fifa have found ours.”"}],[{"start":65.92,"text":"Infantino has been accused of breaking Fifa’s enshrined political neutrality, beginning when he awarded the inaugural “Fifa peace prize” to Trump. The pair have struck up a close bond, and together presented the World Cup trophy to the victorious Spain team after the final in New Jersey."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":82.7,"text":"The tournament’s biggest controversy was the decision to suspend a one-match ban on a US player ahead of a crucial knockout game against Belgium. The unprecedented move came after Infantino was lobbied by the White House to review the original refereeing decision. But he accused countries complaining about the move of hypocrisy."}],[{"start":102.52,"text":"During the five-week contest staged across the US, Canada and Mexico, Fifa was also criticised for failing to ensure the Iranian national team was allowed to travel freely to the US. Iran’s team was forced to move its training base from Arizona to the Mexican border town of Tijuana, and was ordered to return immediately after their opening game in Los Angeles. Several members of the travelling delegation, including the head of Iran’s football federation, were denied US visas."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":133.8,"text":"“While you spread hatred, we worked tirelessly to unite two countries at war,” Infantino said of Iran-US relations. “Iran entered the United States without incident or conflict.”"}],[{"start":144.96,"text":"Alluding to a World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the US, Infantino said: “You mentioned the few people denied visas and overlooked the millions who were approved, from all parts of the world.”"}],[{"start":158.32,"text":"On Monday, Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House judiciary committee, said he had launched an investigation into Fifa’s relationship with the Trump administration, and had written to Infantino demanding he sit for an interview."}],[{"start":171.36,"text":"The Norwegian Football Federation has said it may file an ethics complaint over the red card incident, while Uefa said Fifa had “crossed a red line” in interfering with a referee’s decision during a tournament. The Belgian football association has also vowed to pursue the issue and press for a review of Fifa’s rules."}],[{"start":189.08,"text":"Infantino insisted it was “routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide” to lift bans over “potentially mistaken red or yellow cards”. “It’s curious these same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising,” he added."}],[{"start":204.2,"text":"While many football leagues do have a system — typically involving review by a panel of referees — to overturn red cards, Fifa does not. Instead, Fifa’s disciplinary committee, made up largely of lawyers, issued the ruling to lift the one-match ban on Folarin Balogun. The committee has 18 members, but the chair is able to make most decisions alone."}],[{"start":230,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1785195310_8967.mp3"}