FIFA President Infantino ‘appalled’ by Pele criticism over selfies

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he was appalled after receiving backlash for taking a selfie in view of Pele’s open coffin at Monday’s public vigil.

Pele died on Thursday aged 82 and mourners lined up to view Pele’s body in the center of the pitch at the Vila Belmiro stadium, home of Santos Football Club.

Infantino was among the first to arrive for the service but was criticized after a picture emerged of him taking a selfie with Pele’s former teammates just yards from the former footballer’s body.

In a strong message on Instagram, Infantino said: “I have just landed from my trip to Brazil where I had the privilege of participating in the beautiful tribute to Pelé which took place in Vila Belmiro, in Santos. I am appalled after being informed that I am apparently being criticized by some people for taking a selfie and photos at the ceremony yesterday [Monday].

“I would like to say that I was both honored and touched that teammates and family members of the great Pelé asked me if I could take some pictures with them. And of course, I immediately accepted.

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“In the case of the selfie, Pelé’s teammates asked to take a selfie of us all together but they didn’t know how to do it. So to be helpful, I took the photo of one of them and I took the picture of all of us for him.

“If being useful to a Pelé team-mate creates criticism, I’m happy to take it on and will continue to be useful wherever I can to those who have helped write legendary pages in football.

“I have so much respect and admiration for Pelé and for this ceremony yesterday [Monday] that I would never do anything that would be disrespectful in any way.

“I hope that those who have posted or said things without knowing it and without seeking information can have the decency to admit that they were wrong and to correct what they said.

“The most important thing in all cases is to pay tribute to King Pelé, and although I have humbly suggested that among our 211 member associations at least one football stadium or venue bears his name, we will set an example by giving the pitch in our headquarters the name “Estadio Pele — FIFA Zurich.” Um abraco e viva o Rei!”

Pelé’s coffin will be transported to the Ecumenical Memorial Necropolis Cemetery on Tuesday where he will be buried in a private ceremony.

Pelé, who won a record three World Cups and became one of the most important sports figures of the last century, had been hospitalized last month for multiple ailments and had been undergoing treatment for colon cancer since 2021 .

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