In 15 photos in an Instagram post, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has attacked those who criticised this summer's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
"Some missed out on the beautiful game, the emotions, the celebrations, the laughter, the tears and the joy. They were so consumed by hatred and criticism," Infantino wrote in his open letter, which was also published on FIFA's website.
No people or organisations are mentioned in the post, but between the lines it can be read that the boot is aimed at journalists and national football associations, among others.
Fine art painting
This post should be seen as part of FIFA's attempt to create a narrative that the World Cup was the biggest and best sporting event in world history, says Stanis Elsborg, head of the Danish organisation Play the Game, which works to spread democratic values within the world of sports.
Judging by the post, Infantino seems to have difficulty understanding why it received international attention that a Somali World Cup referee was denied entry to the United States or that the Iranian national team was forced to live in Mexico even though the team played its matches on American soil.
"Then you don't compete on fair terms and it's beyond criticism. I don't know of any previous case where a World Cup participant had to live in a different country from where they were going to play," Stanis Elsborg told the Ritzau news agency.
Infantino thinks that everyone should instead be happy about all the supporters who were allowed to travel into the three host countries, but Elsborg believes that the argument is dishonest.
He does not address the main criticism of the Iranian national team.
Call from Trump
The same applies to the controversy surrounding the lifting of the suspension of US forward Folarin Balogun ahead of the country's round of 16. Something that happened after US President Donald Trump called Infantino.
The outcome could very well have been the same if Trump had not called Infantino, but the problem is that you have no chance of knowing that, says Elsborg.
There is no transparency about how the decision was made.
It was also common when Infantino awarded his peace prize to Donald Trump or the World Cup hosting to Saudi Arabia (2034) - there was no transparency there either, says Stanis Elsborg.
+ Visa issues
Due to visa issues, the Iranian national team's base was moved from the United States to Mexico - even though Iran played its matches in the United States. At the same time, some leaders were denied visas and had to remain in Mexico. Iran also had strict travel restrictions and the squad had to leave the United States immediately after the matches.
Somali World Cup referee Omar Artan, who has been named Africa's best referee, was not allowed into Miami. Somalia is one of several countries subject to a strict travel ban under Donald Trump's presidency.
Even fans from, for example, Haiti, Iran, Senegal and Ivory Coast had difficulty obtaining visas to the United States.
+ The star escaped suspension
US forward Folarin Balogun was set to miss the round of 16 against Belgium after a red card in the round of 16, but Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino and asked for a review. It all ended with FIFA's disciplinary committee lifting the suspension.
The Belgian association appealed in vain and the European Football Association (Uefa) and, for example, the associations in Norway, Germany and Sweden questioned the decision.
