Fifa president Gianni Infantino has apologised for comments he made about British football fans after they drew criticism from supporter groups.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland last month, Infantino said it was “really special” that no British nationals were arrested during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
His remarks resurfaced amid growing concerns over the rising cost of attending matches at the 2026 World Cup this summer. In response, the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) urged the Swiss-Italian to focus on “making cheap tickets” rather than “making cheap jokes about our fans”.
In an interview with Sky News, Infantino explained that his comments were intended as a light-hearted observation, aimed at underlining how the Qatar tournament was “a celebration” and “a peaceful event”.
As he offered an apology — initially directed at supporters from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — the 55-year-old stressed that it had “not been my intention” to offend anyone.
Infantino also admitted he had gone too far by suggesting English fans “just go and riot around the world”, effectively labelling them as criminals. He said he was wrong to frame English supporters in that way, adding that he remains a “huge fan of English football”.
Beyond the controversy surrounding his comments, Infantino also defended Fifa’s decision to award United States President Donald Trump the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize ahead of the 2026 World Cup draw last December.
The award was designed to recognise an individual who had taken “exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace” and helped to unite people globally.
While acknowledging the “strong reaction” the decision provoked, Infantino insisted that, “objectively”, Trump deserved the honour. He claimed the former president had been instrumental in resolving conflicts and “saving lives — thousands of lives”, despite the widespread criticism that followed the announcement.
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