Swiss Gianni Infantino, president of the International Football Association (FIFA), has been viciously attacked for taking a “selfie” next to the coffin of the late legend Pelé.
Infantino took part in the condolences of the legend, who passed away last Thursday at the age of 82 after a long battle with cancer.
Fans lined up for over a kilometer to say goodbye to the Brazilian king in a historic scene that will never be forgotten.
But Infantino sparked controversy after he was seen smiling next to Pele’s coffin while taking a “selfie” with Lima, Pelé’s former teammate at Santos.
The FIFA president reacted to the attack with a message via Instagram, in which he said: “I am horrified to learn of the criticism I have received because of these photos. It’s an honor to ask some of Pele’s colleagues and family members to take pictures with me, and obviously I immediately agreed.”
He added, “Regarding the selfie specifically, Pele’s colleagues asked us to take a group photo, but they didn’t know how to do it, so I took someone’s phone and took a picture.”
At the end of his speech, Infantino expressed his readiness to undergo any harsh criticism in order to help Pele’s colleagues who contributed to writing the legendary football pages.
Source: agencies
