Fifa’s Gianni Infantino lashes out at World Cup critics ‘consumed by hate’ - Financial Times

What the report says

Financial Times reported that Fifa president Gianni Infantino sharply criticised people who attacked the World Cup, saying opponents were “consumed by hate” and had failed to experience the “joy” of what he described as the “best show in the world.” The publicly available material does not identify the event at which he spoke, the specific World Cup edition under discussion, or the full set of remarks.

The comments, as reported by FT, place Infantino in a defensive posture toward criticism of Fifa’s flagship tournament. As head of football’s global governing body, his response matters because Fifa controls the commercial, sporting and political framework around World Cups, including host selection, tournament expansion and relationships with sponsors, broadcasters and national associations.

Context not detailed in the available FT text: recent World Cup cycles have drawn scrutiny from campaigners, fans, players and some governments over issues such as human rights, labour protections, costs to host countries, environmental impact, ticketing and scheduling. Fifa has also argued that its tournaments generate global attention, revenue for football development and a rare shared spectacle across countries.

Because the full FT article is unavailable here, this digest relies on the headline and snippet only for the core development. Further editorial review should confirm the date, venue, surrounding remarks and whether Infantino was responding to particular critics, organisations or controversies.