Infantino shocked by reactions to selfie by Pele’s casket

The Fifa president Gianni Infantino has said he is dismayed to have been criticised for taking a selfie in front of Pelé’s casket and explained that he had been asked to do so by family members of the Brazil great.

Infantino was pictured holding up a phone to take a photo of himself and a group of others at the wake in the Brazilian city of Santos for Pelé, who died on Thursday at the age of 82 from colon cancer.

The Fifa president said on his Instagram account: “Just landed from my trip to Brazil where I had the privilege to participate in the beautiful homage to Pelé 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.

 “I would like to clarify that I was both honoured and humbled that team-mates and family members of the great Pelé asked me if I could take a few photos with them. And obviously I immediately agreed. In the case of the selfie, Pelé’s team-mates asked to do a selfie of all.”

Infantino attended the wake along with the heads of the South American and Brazilian football confederations, and was among the first to pay his respects before Pelé’s s open casket, which was displayed in the middle of the pitch.

The Fifa president also called for every country in the world to name a stadium after Pelé.

“We’re going to ask every country in the world to name one of their football stadiums with the name of Pelé,” Infantino told journalists at the Vila Belmiro stadium. “Future generations have to know and remember who Pelé was.”

However, Infantino’s claim drew ridicule on social media from Argentina fans, fierce rivals of Brazil — one of the Argentina supporters’ most popular songs includes the line “Maradona is greater than Pelé”.