Fifa president Gianni Infantino dismissed criticism of the World Cup, insisting the tournament brought "only joy and happiness". Photo: AFP
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has hit back at Fifa World Cup critics, claiming they were "spreading hate and false rumours" and arguing the tournament delivered "only joy and happiness".
In a long open letter published on Monday, Infantino urged detractors to "take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray" after a tournament marked by controversies ranging from ticket pricing to visa issues.
"Sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all," Infantino wrote in a post shared on his Instagram account and Fifa's official channels.
"To those behind their pens and papers, behind their screens, spreading hate and false rumours, I want to say that while you are sitting behind, we at Fifa are on the front lines organising, working hard, and delivering the best show in the world. We experienced no violence, no incidents, 100% safety and security, only joy and happiness!"
