FIFA President Gianni Infantino has drawn criticism from fans for his effusive praise of former U.S. President Donald Trump, stating that the World Cup would not have been the success it was "without you."
Infantino made the remarks during an event at Trump Tower in New York City days before the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. He lauded Trump, calling the tournament "the greatest human, social and cultural event that mankind has ever witnessed" and thanking him for America's welcome to the world.
The comments have been described by some fans as "sickening," "cringe," and "beyond pathetic." Critics also pointed to Infantino's failure to address controversies surrounding the tournament, such as the treatment of the Iran team or the country's decision to deny entry to a Somali referee.
The exchange comes amid scrutiny of the relationship between Infantino and Trump. Trump had previously asked Infantino to review a red card issued to U.S. striker Folarin Balogun during the tournament. The player's one-game suspension was ultimately overturned following pressure from U.S. Soccer and the White House.
Trump, speaking at the same event, defended Infantino's decision regarding Balogun. "You made another great decision... it was so much better the way it worked out because there's no controversy," Trump said, referencing the U.S. team's subsequent loss to Belgium. He suggested that Infantino would not receive credit for the decision, even if it had resulted in a different outcome.
Infantino claimed that the decision to suspend Balogun's ban was made by "independent" bodies acting "autonomously." Despite these claims, the controversy has fueled allegations of political interference and favoritism.
Trump and Infantino are scheduled to present the World Cup trophy to the winning team at MetLife Stadium.