FIFA President Gianni Infantino made a joke about British football fans' behaviour while defending ticket prices for this summer's World Cup in North America during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday.
Addressing concerns about the tournament in the US amid domestic tensions, Infantino noted that before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar there had been many critics, but that the event passed without incident. 'For the first time in history also, no Brit was arrested during a World Cup. Imagine! This is something really, really special,' he said.
The Football Supporters' Association responded: 'While we've got Mr Infantino's attention, we'd like to point out that rather than making cheap jokes about our fans, he should concentrate on making cheap tickets.'
Infantino defended ticket prices, which have faced intense criticism, particularly from Germany and England. The cheapest tickets for the final cost $4,185 (£3,100), with only a tiny percentage available in the $40 category. He noted that the US, Germany, and England are the top three countries for ticket requests, and claimed every match will be sold out.
He also dismissed reports that fans from certain countries, including Haiti, Iran, and Senegal, could face visa issues, stating: 'The United States, Canada and Mexico will welcome the world next summer.'
