Infantino makes cringeworthy ‘love me’ speech after being re-elected

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino was today re-elected for a third term after standing unopposed. The much-maligned 52-year-old then gave a cringeworthy acceptance speech where he claimed “there are so many” people who love him.

Infantino has faced regular criticism since he first became president in 2016. He replaced Sepp Blatter following his predecessor’s resignation and retained his position unopposed in 2019.

The Swiss has not been wholly popular with all member associations after pushing for a World Cup to be played every two years. He was also widely criticised for a speech he gave on the eve of the World Cup in Qatar.

Qatar’s human rights record came under huge scrutiny in the build-up and during the tournament. Part of Infantino’s now-famous monologue saw him say: “Today I feel Qatari. Today I feel Arabic. Today I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today I feel disabled.”

But he again stood unopposed at the FIFA congress in Rwanda on Thursday. President of the Asian Football Confederation, Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, invited delegates to applaud in order to re-elect Infantino for the period 2023 to 2027.

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FIFA's Gianni Infantino hits back at Qatar critics in speech

After a couple of seconds of silence, large applause did break out. Infantino started off his speech by claiming he wanted to stay seated in order not to “fall down”.

He also laughed after joking he would have loved to have been part of the FIFA legends team, though there didn’t appear to be much reaction in the room as he chuckled to himself. Infantino said: “Thank you very much. I prefer to stay seated so I don’t risk to fall down.

“Let me thank all of you. My family… my wife… my friends… my team. All of you. The FIFA team, the council team, the committees’ team, the member associations’ team, the legends’ team. I would have loved to have been a legend as well (laughing)…”

Then came the moment Infantino said he loved his many fans, as well as the “few” who are against him. He said: “All those who love me, they know there are so many, and also hate me, I know there are a few, I love you all. Of course today especially.”

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A voice on the stage was overheard saying: “We love you president!” Infantino laughed and replied: “Thank you.”

Infantino finished his speech by stressing the honour he feels of being re-elected and promised to bring people together through the sport. He concluded: “Being of course the president of FIFA is an incredible honour, it is an incredible privilege as well, and it is also a great responsibility. I am truly humbled and touched by your support.

“I simply promise you that I will continue serving FIFA, serving football all over the world, serving all 211 member associations of FIFA. Leadership is obviously about listening and learning. And you always learn and I think I am learning every day.

“And then leadership is also about acting and I am certainly there to act. So you can continue to trust on my commitment and the only thing I’m asking you is for this, my second term, to continue working hard together, to unite the world with football.”

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