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Another week, another absolutely boneheaded decision from FIFA President and real-life aspiring supervillain Gianni Infantino.
After overseeing a controversial World Cup in Qatar — which saw him deliver an extremely bizarre opening press conference in which he said he “feels gay” and condemn players for protesting the human rights abuses in the host nation — Infantino once again found himself in the crosshairs of the football world for posing for a selfie at Pele’s funeral in Brazi.
Infantino’s selfie (in addition to his claim that FIFA will ask every country to name a stadium after Pele) made international headlines in the football world almost immediately. According to Infantino, however, he was merely obliging Pele’s teammates, who asked him for a selfie but “didn’t know how to do it.”
🔺 UPDATED: Every country will be asked to name a stadium after Pelé, Gianni Infantino, the Fifa president, said at the wake of Brazil’s football great — at which he was also seen appearing to take a selfie in front of the open casket https://t.co/gXxguthjGE
— Times Sport (@TimesSport) January 2, 2023
FIFA boss Gianni Infantino appears to take a SELFIE near Pele's open casket https://t.co/7V3k6Uk1ff
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) January 2, 2023
Pele’s funeral was held in Sao Paolo, Brazil, on Tuesday, January 3, after the football legend passed away on December 29 at the age of 82 years old following a battle with cancer.
You can read Infantino’s full statement from his Instagram page below:
Just landed from my trip to Brazil where I had the privilege to participate in the beautiful homage to Pelé that took place at Vila Belmiro, in Santos. I am dismayed after having been informed that I am apparently being criticized 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 Pelé asked me if I could take a few photos with them. And obviously I immediately agreed.
In the case of the selfie, Pelé’s teammates asked to do a selfie of all of us together but they didn’t know how to do it. So, to be helpful, I took the phone of one of them and took the photo of all of us for him. If being helpful to a teammate of Pelé creates criticism I’m happy to take it and will continue to be helpful wherever I can to those having contributed to write legendary pages of football.
I have so much respect and admiration for Pelé and for that ceremony yesterday that I would never do anything that would be disrespectful in any way whatsoever. I hope that those who published or said things without knowing and without seeking information could have the decency and courage to admit they were wrong and correct what they said.
The most important in any case is to pay tribute to King Pelé, and whilst I humbly suggested that throughout our 211 member associations at least one football stadium or venue is named after him, we will set the example by giving the pitch in our headquarters the name “Estádio Pelé – FIFA Zürich”. Um abraço e viva o Rei!
Back in November, it was confirmed that Infantino will serve as FIFA President for another four years — which will lead into and include the 2026 World Cup in North America — as he emerged as the only candidate in next March’s election, according to Reuters.