Gianni Infantino explains why he took a selfie next to Pelé's coffin
Gianni Infantino referred to being "horrified" by the criticism for this act, and explained why he did it.
"Horrified" by the criticism about his alleged lack of respect, the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino responded after taking a selfie a few meters from Pelé's coffin, during the wake of the Brazilian football legend.
The leader of football made a statement after he was captured posing with a smile in the middle of the wake, taking place on the field of Santos stadium. "I am horrified to know that I am apparently being criticized by some for having taken a selfie and photos during the ceremony", Infantino posted on his social media.
He added the following. "I have so much respect and admiration for Pelé and for the ceremony that I would never have dared to do anything that could be considered disrespectful".
He also stated that what happened was at the request of those close to 'O Rei': "I felt honored and moved because colleagues and family members of the great Pelé asked me to take a photo with them [...] Pelé's colleagues asked me for a group selfie, but they didn't know how to do it. So, being helpful, I took one of their phones and took a photo of everyone", added Infantino, who took the photo with Manoel Maria, Pelé's former best friend.
Remember that Pelé was buried last Tuesday at the Memorial Necrópole Ecumenica cemetery, located in the Brazilian city of Santos. Previously, Infantino announced on Monday that FIFA would ask all its member countries to name a stadium after Pelé. "We will set an example by renaming the stadium located in our headquarters as 'Pelé-FIFA Zürich Stadium'", he also referred on his social media.