Gianni Infantino: “Pele's team-mates asked to do a selfie, not me”
The FIFA president drew a lot of criticism after being pictured taking a selfie meters away from Pele's coffin during his funeral. Infantino hits back stating he's "dismayed" by the gossip.
After years of battling cancer, the three-time World Cup winner passed away aged 82 after being moved to palliative care early in December. FIFA president
Gianni Infantino
was at
Pele's funeral on Monday where his coffin was placed in the centre circle at Urbano Caldeira Stadium in Sao Paulo.
The FIFA president has subsequently come under fire after a picture emerged showing him taking a selfie meters away from the Brazilian legend's coffin.
The Italian wrote on Instagram:
"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.
"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 [Monday].
"I would like to clarify that I was both honoured and humbled that team-mates 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 team-mates 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 photo of one of them and took the photo of all of us for him.
"If being helpful to a team-mate 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 [Monday] that I would never do anything that would be disrespectful in any way whatsoever."
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