Berlin (dpa)
Swiss Gianni Infantino, President of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), expressed his dissatisfaction and bewilderment at the criticism he was subjected to following taking a “selfie” near the coffin, in which the body of Brazilian soccer legend Pele is located.
Infantino took the picture with his mobile phone while he was near Pele’s coffin in the middle of the Brazilian club “Santos” stadium, where the body has been lying since yesterday “Monday” to allow fans and fans of Pele and football to take a “last look” at him before his burial yesterday, Tuesday.
Pele passed away last Thursday at the age of 82 following a struggle with cancer.
During his visit to Brazil yesterday, Monday, to participate in the funeral ceremonies for the late Brazilian legend, Infantino confirmed that he would demand that all 211 FIFA member associations name Pele on one of the stadiums in their country with the aim of perpetuating the name of the late star, who is still the only player in history who was crowned with the title. World Cup three times, introducing it to new generations.
Infantino did not understand the reason for the negative understanding of his behavior, and wrote on the “Instagram” network to exchange photos: “I just arrived from my trip to Brazil, where I was honored to participate in the ceremony honoring Pele that took place at Villa Belmero in Santos.” He added, “I feel resentful and confused following I was informed that I was subjected to clear criticism by some people for taking a selfie and other photos during the ceremony yesterday, Monday.”
He pointed out: «I want to clarify that I was honored and influenced by the request of colleagues and members of the family of the legend Pele from me if I might take some pictures with them, and of course I agreed immediately».
He explained, “With regard to the selfie, Pele’s colleagues asked me to take a selfie for all of us, but they did not know how to do that, and in order to help them, I took a picture of one of them and I took a picture of all of us with him.”
And he continued, “If helping a colleague of Pele results in criticism, I am happy to do so and will continue to help as much as I can to those who have contributed to writing the legendary pages of football.”
The FIFA president concluded by saying, “I have so much respect and admiration for Pele and those ceremonies that I would never do anything that might be disrespectful in any way.”
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At a funeral: Fifa boss Gianni Infantino takes a selfie on the coffin of the dead Pele Sports
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
FIFA President Gianni Infantino (52) is once once more making (negative) headlines!
On Monday, the Brazilian fans were allowed to say goodbye to their idol and national hero Pelé († 82) at the public wake in the FC Santos stadium.
Pelé’s last trip Here the football king is laid out
That’s what the Fifa President wanted too: and caused a stir during his visit with a tasteless selfie on the coffin of the dead Brazilian!
Smiling, Infantino posed just a few meters from Pelé’s coffin with some ex-Santos players and companions of the three-time world champion and happily snapped away. The photos include Manoel Maria (74) and Lima (80), both of whom played with Pelé at FC Santos.
Incidentally, the Fifa President has not yet published the selfies: in a condolence post on Instagram, the Swiss only said goodbye with official media photos of Pelé’s wake.
Infantino: “Pelé leaves an incredible, unique legacy to football. He had a gift from God – a gift few people have, which is to be able to touch the hearts and emotions of so many people through football. He will be remembered by billions of people around the world – including many who, like me, have never seen him play.”
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Then the boss of the World Football Association, who had taken over the Fifa scepter from Sepp Blatter (86) since 2016, suggested a crazy idea to honor the Brazilian.
“Now we have to make sure that we – the world of football – remember Pele forever. For this reason, I propose that all 211 of our member associations pay tribute to his memory by naming one of their stadiums in his honour. Young people around the world need to know and remember who Pelé was and what good fortune he brought,” Infantino continued.
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Only at the highly controversial desert World Cup in Qatar did the Fifa boss arouse a lot of displeasure.
Already at the opening press conference before the World Cup, Infantino stammered Gaga statements (“Today I feel gay, today I feel African, today I feel Arab”).
And the FIFA boss also attracted negative attention at the award ceremony following the World Cup final: At first, the Swiss did not prevent Argentina’s superstar Lionel Messi – which is not permitted under FIFA’s statutes – from Qatar’s Emir al-Thani to give him a black and gold robe.
Then the Fifa boss hesitated to present the captain of the “Albiceleste” with the World Cup.
Football stadiums named after Pele in every country; FIFA with the proposal Football stadium in the name of Pele in every country; FIFA with the proposal
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
Brasilia: FIFA president Gianni Infantino said that a football stadium in all the countries of the world will be asked to be named following the legendary player Pele. He revealed this to the media when he came to pay his respects at Pele’s funeral in Santos.
Pele is immortal and a global icon of football. We stand here with great sadness. Going through a lot of emotions and pain. But he is the one who gave us many smiles. So we have that smile. “FIFA paid tribute to him and asked the whole world to observe a moment of silence,” Infantino said.
Rio de Janeiro abandoned a move to name Brazil’s famous Maracana Stadium following Pele in April 2021 following the state’s governor vetoed it.
Pele, who was undergoing treatment for cancer, passed away on December 29, 2022 at the age of 82. FIFA world flags were flown at half-mast outside its headquarters in Zurich on Friday as a tribute to Pele. Pele won the World Cup for Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970, making him the only player to win three World Cups. Pele also holds the Guinness World Record for scoring 1,281 goals in 1,363 games, including friendly matches.
Berlin (dpa)
Swiss Gianni Infantino, President of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), mourned the legend Pele with moving words, stressing that he left a legacy that “words cannot express” and that he “has truly reached eternity and will remain with us forever.”
Prominent stars such as Lionel Messi, the Brazilian Ronaldo and Cristiano Ronaldo offered their condolences for the death of the legend Pele, then Infantino offered his condolences with touching words published by the International Federation. Infantino said: To all who love the beautiful game, it’s the day we never wanted to come, the day we lose Pele, the king was unique in many things.
He added: He was the only player to win the World Cup three times, and he had unparalleled skill and imagination. Pele did things that no other player even dreamed of doing, such as the famous dribbling in the 1970 World Cup semi-finals that became known as the “dribble.” Pele”, or the goal he scored as a 17-year-old in the 1958 World Cup final, when he threw the ball past a defender, before hitting the net from an aerial throw.
He added: The celebration of the “brown jewel” with its goals, while jumping in the air, has become one of the most famous images that have been associated with our sport and engraved in its memory. Rather, we have seen only a slight trace of what it was able to do because it lived in an era when televised football was what He is still taking his first steps.
Infantino continued to praise Pele, saying: The most important thing to watch is the “king”, as he ascends to his throne with a wide smile on his face. Football was violent in those days, which Pele sometimes suffered from. However, although he was a master at defending himself, he had a sporting ethic of the highest order, especially with an inherent respect for his opponents.
Infantino added: I had the honor of meeting him on several occasions, and in 2016 I was with him as FIFA president at the first showing of his movie, which reminded me of sitting next to my father in 1981 when he took me to watch the movie “Escape to Victory”, where Pele acted alongside Sylvester Stallone and a number of other stars.
He said: I was only eleven years old, when my father told me regarding the wonderful player Pele, and the goal he scored in that movie was the way to see a glimpse of his incredible skills.
He added: The moments I spent with him will remain forever stuck in my memory and engraved in my heart. Pele had an attractive presence, and time stopped with him. His life was too wonderful to be reduced to the limits of football. He had the ability to change views for the better in Brazil, South America and the world at large, his legacy cannot be expressed in words. Infantino concluded his speech by saying: I extend my sincere condolences to his family, friends, the Brazilian Football Confederation, Brazil and all the football fans who loved him. Today we are mourning the loss of the physical presence of our dear Pele, but he really reached eternity a long time ago, so he will remain with us forever.