IN DENIAL Fifa president Gianni Infantino issues bizarre 880-word statement on ‘strange’ decisions as he slams World Cup critics

GIANNI INFANTINO has congratulated himself on an “incident-free” World Cup and accused his critics of “spreading hate”.

The Fifa president, 56, reflected on this summer‘s tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico in a lengthy 15-slide Instagram post.

In it, he called out the hypocrisy of those who kicked up a fuss after Folarin Balogun‘s one-match ban was suspended following a phone call from Donald Trump, celebrated the way the Iranian national team was treated, and defended the visa drama that left an African referee out in the cold.

A defiant Infantino wrote: “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.”

He added: “We experienced no violence, no incidents, 100 per cent safety and security, only joy and happiness!

“While they celebrated, you were busy planting seeds of hate.”

Most would consider it a World Cup packed with controversy.

Balogun’s suspended ban was front and centre of the drama, sparking strong criticism from European governing body Uefa, the threat of legal action from the Belgian FA, and a formal complaint from Norwegian football chiefs.

But Infantino said: “Maybe it’s time to show some love.

“Indeed, ‘arguable’ referees’ decisions or ‘strange’ disciplinary rulings such as for instance potentially mistaken red or yellow cards or subsequent decisions not to ban players in certain situations are routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide.