Gianni Infantino apologized for a joke about the behavior of British football fans and called for the ban on Russia to play international football to be lifted.
In a wide-ranging interview with Ski Newsthe FIFA chief also defended his decision to award US President Donald Trump the first FIFA Peace Prize and hit back at suggestions that nations should boycott this summer’s World Cup in protest at Trump’s policies.
Infantino hit the headlines last month when he noted the good behavior of fans at the World Cup in Qatar, saying: “For the first time in history, no British people have been arrested during the World Cup. Imagine! This is something really, really special.”
At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, police also did not detain British fans, and the Football Supporters’ Association criticized the FIFA chief’s “cheap jokes”.
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FIFA president Gianni Infantino took a jibe at British football fans during his speech at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, saying it was “really special” that no British nationals had been arrested during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Sitting with Ski NewsInfantino said: “First of all I have to apologise. It was meant to be a more light-hearted remark to show that the World Cup in Qatar was actually a celebration, that it was a peaceful event and that everyone came together in a peaceful way.”
“So to have English fans – real fans – coming in a peaceful way and enjoying and cheering for their team is something that’s fantastic.
England fans will travel to the World Cup, hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada, in significant numbers this summer. That’s despite recent calls for European nations to boycott the event, following Trump’s threat to annex Greenland.
Infantino made Trump the first recipient of the newly created FIFA Peace Prize in December, just weeks after the president missed out on the Nobel Peace Prize.
President Donald Trump places the medal for his FIFA Peace Prize during the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington
“If you managed to save lives, to protect your people and other people around the world, you deserve respect,” Infantino said. Ski News. “He was instrumental in resolving conflicts and saving lives and saving thousands of lives.”
Asked for his views on potential boycotts over Trump’s actions and comments, Infantino questioned why football should be an avenue used to protest politics.
“If I’m not mistaken, the UK’s most important trading partner is the US,” he said. “(Around) £330 billion annual trade volume. Is anyone suggesting that the UK should stop trading with the US? I haven’t heard that.
“By the way, it is the same for other countries, Qatar or others in the past. I have never heard that there should be a boycott of business or a boycott of political or diplomatic relations. Why football?”
Russia ban ‘just created more hate’
Infantino also said: “I am always against bans.”
FIFA and UEFA have banned Russia from international competition since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
That conflict continues – but Infantino says Russia should now be allowed to compete again.
Asked if the ban should be lifted, he said: “We have to. Definitely. Because this ban has achieved nothing, it has only created more frustration and hatred.”
Infantino added that FIFA should change its rules so that no country is banned from competing.
“We should never actually ban any country from playing football because of the actions of their political leaders,” he said. “Somebody needs to keep the connections open.”