Having been criticised for taking a selfie near Pele's coffin at the legendary Brazilian's funeral on Tuesday, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has explained his actions.
FIFA President Makes Massive Pele Request To Every Country In The World
This week, the president of world football's governing body has been slammed on social media for appearing to take a selfie while standing near Pele's coffin at his funeral.
Infantino, who recently stated that FIFA will ask every country to name a stadium after the iconic World Cup figure, has since issued a statement in which he defended himself, insisting he was asked by some of Pele's former teammates if they could have pictures with him.
JUST IN: #BNNBrazil Reports.@FIFAcom president Gianni Infantino was seen taking a selfie right next to Pelé's open coffin at the wake in the Brazilian city of Santos for Pelé. #Pelefuneral #Pele #Infantino #Society pic.twitter.com/ptfcx88FMF
— Gurbaksh Singh Chahal (@gchahal) January 3, 2023
"Just landed from my trip to Brazil where I had the privilege to participate in the beautiful homage to Pele that took place at Vila Belmiro, in Santos," he wrote, according to the Daily Mirror.
"I am dismayed after having been informed that I am apparently being criticised by some people for having taken a selfie and pictures at the ceremony yesterday.
"I would like to clarify that I was both honoured and humbled that teammates and family members of the great Pele asked me if I could take a few photos with them. And obviously, I immediately agreed.
"In the case of the selfie, Pele's teammates asked to do a selfie of all of us together but they didn't know how to do it. So, to be helpful, I took the phone of one of them and took the photo of all of us for him.
"If being helpful to a teammate of Pele creates criticism, I'm happy to take it and will continue to be helpful wherever I can to those having contributed to write legendary pages of football.
"I have so much respect and admiration for Pele and for that ceremony yesterday that I would never do anything that would be disrespectful in any way whatsoever. I hope that those who published or said things without knowing and without seeking information could have the decency and courage to admit they were wrong and correct what they said."
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