FIFA boss Gianni Infantino insists he would never be disrespectful to Pele as he came under fire over a selfie at the Brazilian legend’s wake. Photo: EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON
FIFA boss Gianni Infantino insists he would never be disrespectful to Pele as he came under fire over a selfie at the Brazilian legend’s wake. Photo: EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON
FIFA chief Gianni Infantino insisted on Wednesday he would never be disrespectful to Pele as he came under fire over a photo call at the Brazilian legend’s wake.
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Infantino took a selfie with some of Pele’s old team-mates on Monday right beside the open coffin of the three-time World Cup winner.
The Swiss said he took the photo as Pele’s friends seemed unable to operate their mobile phones.
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“I took the phone of one of them and took the photo of all of us for him,” Infantino insisted.
“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 that I would never do anything that would be disrespectful in any way whatsoever,” Infantino said.
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Brazil gave Pele a powerful send off starting with a day-long wake at the Santos stadium.
Santos said more than 230 000 people had attended his 24-hour wake in the Vila Belmiro stadium.
At the funeral a more sombre tone was set as Pele’s tearful widow Marcia Cibele Aoki was embraced by the equally moved newly-sworn in president Lula.
Pele died on Thursday at age 82 after a battle with cancer.
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By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
