The 2026 FIFA World Cup will start in June in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. But before the start of the tournament, yet another controversy has arisen.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has issued an apology to British football fans after facing widespread backlash over a controversial joke about supporter behaviour.
Infantino made these remarks during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month. Fans across the UK were unhappy straightaway.
Infantino was reflecting on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He attempted humour that many fans felt crossed the line. Infantino said at the event (quotes via The Sun):
“For the first time in history, also, no Brit was arrested during a World Cup. Imagine. This is something really, really special.”
However, what was intended as a joke landed poorly. Almost immediately, supporter groups condemned the comments, with the Football Supporters Association leading the criticism.
The organisation accused Infantino of disrespecting fans and urged him to focus on more pressing issues. The FSA said in a statement:
“He should concentrate on making cheap tickets rather than making cheap jokes about our fans.”
Meanwhile, the reaction online was equally fierce. Many fans accused the FIFA president of reinforcing outdated stereotypes about British supporters.
Now, Infantino has moved to ease tensions. Speaking after the backlash, the 55-year-old insisted he didn’t intend to offend anyone with his comments.
He described them as a ‘light-hearted remark’ as Infantino explained:
“It was meant to show that the World Cup in Qatar was a celebration. It was a peaceful event.”
Nevertheless, he went further by issuing a direct apology to supporters from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, stressing that the Swiss never intended to offend them.
Infantino also acknowledged that the fans have misjudged his words. He particularly pointed out comments suggesting English fans ‘just go and riot around the world’ at football matches.
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