FIFA president Gianni Infantino 'dismayed' by criticism for Pele tribute selfies taken in Brazil
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Updated 03/01/2023 at 15:29 GMT
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has continued to court criticism following the 2022 Qatar World Cup speech where he claimed he felt a number of different identities ahead of the tournament, and has now declared he is 'dismayed' to have received criticism for taking selfies at a tribute for recently deceased Brzilian football legend Pele, claiming he was doing so at the request of others.
Infantino: "FIFA will ask every country to name a stadium after Pele"
Video credit: SNTV
Gianni Infantino has said he is “dismayed” by criticism he received for taking selfies at a tribute for Pele, who died aged 82.
The Brazilian football legend was a hero in his home country as well as for football fans across the world, and is widely regarded as one of the best players of all times.
After he died from cancer in Brazil, the country’s outgoing president Jair Bolsonaro declared three days of mourning for the country.
As part of the mourning, there was a tribute to Pele at Belmiro in Santos, Brazil, and on the FIFA president’s Instagram account he posted a selfie with Pele’s teammates and family.
That led to suggestions he was acting in bad taste and using a sombre event to promote himself instead of observing the atmosphere more respectfully,
Infantino responded on his Instagram account on Tuesday, as he wrote: “Just landed from my trip to Brazil where I had the privilege to participate in the beautiful homage to Pele that took place at Vila Belmero, in Santos.
"I am dismayed after having been informed that I am apparently being criticised by some people for having taken a selfie and pictures at the ceremony yesterday.
“I would like to clarify that I was both honoured and humbled that teammates and family members of the great Pele asked me if I could take a few photos with them. And obviously I immediately agreed.”
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