FIFA president ‘appalled’ by critics, tries to clear up photo: ‘Pels’ teammates asked for a selfie’

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino has pushed back against critics who spoke out after taking a selfie at Pels’ public vigil on Monday.

Pel died last week at the age of 82 and a ceremony honoring the legendary sports figure was held at the Urbano Caldeira stadium in Santos, Brazil, where he played for 18 years.

Photographs from the ceremony showed Pels’ daughter, Kelly Cristina Nascimento, greeting mourners near the casket as Infantino posed for the selfie in the background.

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino, second from left, poses for a photo during the funeral of soccer legend Pele at Urbano Caldeira Stadium on January 2, 2023 in Santos, Brazil. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

In an attempt to provide more context, Infantino took to his social media platform and posted a different angle to the photo. In the Instagram post, a group of Pels teammates are seen with Infantino.

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Infantino mentioned he was surprised by the level of criticism surrounding the photography.

“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,” Infantino wrote in a caption.

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

FIFA President Gianni Infantino kisses Pele’s son Edinho at the football legend’s funeral on January 29. 2, 2023, in Santos, Brazil. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

“In the case of the selfie, Pels’ 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 one of them’s phone and I took the picture of all of us for him.”

Many football fans slammed Infantino for the photo, which some called “classless”. The controversial selfie also drew comparisons to disgraced former FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

Blatter was banned from FIFA for breaches of ethics in 2015.

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“It takes a lot to be worse than Sepp Blatter, but Gianni Infantino comes close,” said one Twitter user.

Pel died on December 29 from organ failure following colon cancer.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino greets the start of Pelé’s funeral at the Urbano Caldeira stadium on January 29. February 2, 2023. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

“I have so much respect and admiration for Pel and for that ceremony yesterday that I would never do anything that would be disrespectful in any way,” Infantino added.

An estimated 200,000 mourners bid farewell to Pel at the public hearing. A fire truck transported his body through Santos to his final resting place.

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Pelé is arguably the greatest footballer of all time and a three-time World Cup winner.

Chantz Martin is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital.

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