On the eve of the World Cup, Gianni Infantino encouraged football fans to “We don’t live on the moon, we live on planet Earth,” as FIFA faces scrutiny from the United Nations regarding immigration concerns that have marred the tournament’s preparations.
The FIFA president staunchly defended his organization’s management of the event, particularly addressing issues related to ticket prices and visa complications. He claimed that no other organization could have ensured Iran’s participation, despite the nation being in conflict with one of the hosting countries, the United States.
Infantino expressed no regrets about granting hosting rights to the U.S., which will host 78 of the 104 tournament matches. This decision comes even as fans from four competing nations face travel restrictions and Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry at Miami International Airport this week.
“We have to respect that we are not kings of the world, who can rule over governments and police forces. We are a sports organisation that does as much as we can. It’s important sometimes to chill, relax. We work on everything. Sometimes screaming and shouting does not find a solution.” Infantino remarked. “In 2035 we hope the Women’s World Cup will be in the United Kingdom,”
Starting with a 35-minute address, Infantino urged the media to concentrate on football before tackling what he identified as the three primary concerns: ticket prices, Iran’s situation, and immigration policies in the United States.
The 56-year-old, who has faced criticism for FIFA’s transparency issues, responded comprehensively to a select number of questions over an additional 40 minutes, concluding his remarks by wishing the audience an enjoyable tournament.
Artan’s exclusion prompted a call from the UN for a reassessment of U.S. immigration policies earlier in the day. However, Infantino defended the United States’ right to regulate its borders, despite having previously asserted that this would be the most inclusive World Cup to date.
“Would you find it normal that Fifa would dictate to the British government who to let into the country? “Unfortunately we live in an aggressive world and security goes above everything. “When I say chill I don’t mean sit and do nothing. I mean trust us that we are trying to find solutions. Sometimes we are successful, sometimes we are not.” he stated. “Would you find it normal that FIFA would dictate to the British government who to let into the country?
“Unfortunately we live in an aggressive world and security goes above everything.
“Until today we have sold over six million tickets,”
Infantino was equally firm in his defense of FIFA’s ticket pricing, arguing that lower prices would likely lead to a surge in black market sales, and asserting that the revenue generated is crucial for funding football in developing countries.
“The demand has been unprecedented, not by a little bit, but by a factor of 10 or more. “The World Cup is a unique event that takes place every four years, and when you’re in one country you need to deal with local habits and local customs. Our entry price at $60 is the lowest of all the American sports in the playoff phases. Our average price of $500 is lower than the average price for American playoffs. You can at least compare the World Cup with the playoffs. When we put tickets on sale on the secondary market they are sold at a much higher price, which shows the original price was accurate. “What’s most important in all of this is that every dollar we generate goes back into football. If we were selling our TV rights to pay-TV, like everyone else, we would generate four times as much revenue. And we could give all the tickets away, but they would still end up on the black market. “As Fifa president we have to strike a balance. We invest in countries where no one else does – South Sudan, Bhutan. No one else is doing this.” he noted. “The demand has been unprecedented, not by a little bit, but by a factor of 10 or more.
“The World Cup is a unique event that takes place every four years, and when you’re in one country, you need to deal with local habits and local customs. Our entry price at $60 is the lowest of all the American sports in the playoff phases. Our average price of $500 is lower than the average price for American playoffs. You can at least compare the World Cup with the playoffs. When we put tickets on sale on the secondary market, they are sold at a much higher price, which shows the original price was accurate.
“What’s most important in all of this is that every dollar we generate goes back into football. If we were selling our TV rights to pay-TV, like everyone else, we would generate four times as much revenue. And we could give all the tickets away, but they would still end up on the black market.
“I went to see the Iran team in Turkey in March when people were saying it would be impossible for them to come,”
Infantino also took credit for ensuring Iran’s participation, despite the team having to relocate their training camp to Mexico and many staff members being barred from entering the U.S. He concluded with a personal message of gratitude to Donald Trump.
“I told them they would come and if I had to take a bus to Iran and drive them here, I would. They said they would drive the bus themselves. I don’t know who else in these circumstances would have made sure that Iran would come and play. “I’m very proud of my team and grateful to the administrations of all three host countries. I have a great relationship with President Trump. Without his engagement it would have been impossible to organise a World Cup in the United States. He understood immediately the magnitude of the World Cup and he helped to assist.” he shared. “I told them they would come and if I had to take a bus to Iran and drive them here, I would. They said they would drive the bus themselves. I don’t know who else in these circumstances would have made sure that Iran would come and play.
“I’m very proud of my team and grateful to the administrations of all three host countries. I have a great relationship with President Trump. Without his engagement it would have been impossible to organize a World Cup in the United States. He understood immediately the magnitude of the World Cup and he helped to assist.”
