FIFA'S president has released a bizarre 15-page statement claiming people experienced "no incidents... only joy and happiness" during the World Cup, adding that the controversial decision to overturn a red card ban is "routine" in football.
This came despite several high-profile cases of players and fans being blocked from entering or staying in the US, one of the hosts of the competition, including the entire Iranian team who had to fly from their camp in Mexico and back for the games they contested in the US due to Visa restrictions placed on them amid the war in Iran.
A Somalian referee, named as the continent's top male referee last year, who was part of Fifa's official pool of officials for the tournament was also blocked from entering the US, despite holding a diplomatic passport and valid Visa.
It also impacted fans travelling from Scotland, where unlike Somalia and Iran there is no Trump-imposed travel ban in place, as several Tartan Army members saw key travel documents being rejected after they were approved.
Gianni Infantino, the head of football's world governing body, Fifa, has since released a statement "To everyone who missed our beautiful game, the emotions, the celebrations, the laughter, the crying, the deception, and the joy".
He said he is: "Sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all," appearing to reference the criticism him and the competition faced throughout its run.
"To those behind their pens and papers, behind their screens spreading hate and false rumours, I want to say that while you are sitting behind, we at Fifa are on the front lines organising, working hard, and delivering the best show in the world."
He went on to say: "While you divide, we unite. People came together as families, as fans, as one."
"We experienced no violence, no incidents, 100% safety and security, only joy and happiness!
"Seven million people from over 200 countries enjoyed the tournament across 16 fantastic cities and stadiums: zero incidents, zero hostility, zero violence, just joy, emotions, happiness, unity and togetherness.
"All were safe, secure, happy".
After praising the governments of the host countries, the US, Mexico and Canada, and Fifa's volunteers who worked to assist fans and teams across the continent, he went back to the critics, saying: "While they [the fans] celebrated, you were busy planting seeds of hate.
"Our world needs love, not hate; tolerance, not division, celebration, not mourning.
"While you spread hatred, we worked tirelessly to unite two countries at war.
"Iran entered the United States without incident or conflict".
US visas were only approved one month in advance of the competition starting, despite Iran being one of the first teams to secure their place in the finals back in March 2025, almost a full year before Israeli-US strikes sparked a war.
The country's World Cup group-stage ticket allocation was also reportedly revoked just days before the tournament
That came after Iran were forced to move their training base from Tucson, Arizona to the Mexican city of Tijuana because the US was unwilling to host them. 15 administrative officials were also reportedly denied entry.
Fifa additionally banned the country's pre-revolutionary Lion and Sun flag inside World Cup stadiums, classifying it as a political symbol.
Infantino went on to say: "It's not about politics. Football is about unity, not division. Football is bigger than hate and discrimination."
Speaking on the blocking of individuals from entering the country he said critics are picking out "the few people denied visas" while ignoring the millions of fans who were able to travel to watch the competition.
"Maybe it's time to show some love," he added.
He went on to address, indirectly, the decision made to overturn US striker Folarin Balogun's red card for the Round of 16 after lobbying from president Donald Trump.
He claimed that: "Indeed, "arguable" referees' decisions or "strange" disciplinary rulings such as for instance potential mistaken red or yellow cards or subsequent decisions not to ban players in certain situations are routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide."
The decision was largely unprecedented, with referee's decisions made on the field of play at a World Cup being widely understood, through Fifa's own disciplinary code, to be final.
Despite this, the US Men's National Team was able to successfully appeal the decision, allowing Balogun to play in the match with his one-match suspension being delayed pending review.
The closest example using modern Fifa rules and disciplinary guidelines is considered to be Cristiano Ronaldo's red card suspension during the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, where a three-game ban was reduced to one game. This decision in itself was unpreceded and drew criticism.
He concluded his statement saying: "To the pens and papers, to all the screens, may you find love and peace where the people behind you couldn't.
"May you find peace; we at Fifa have found ours and we deliver it, by delivering the most outstanding Fifa World Cup. May football rise above all the hate.
"Finally I am incredible proud, as Fifa president to have contributed, even a little, to this show. It's a great feeling!
"Much love to all."
