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FIFA president Gianni Infantino has taken a swipe at his critics, claiming he is 'dismayed' at criticism being levelled at him after he took a selfie near Pele's open casket.
The FIFA boss was in Santos to pay respects to the Brazilian icon, who died last Thursday at the age of 82 following a long battle with cancer.
Infantino was seen taking a selfie with a group, drawing global criticism and for the first time he has now hit back, claiming he was doing a favour for some of Pele's old team-mates who struggled to master taking a selfie photograph.
Infantino (left) appeared to take a selfie next to the open casket of footballing legend Pele (seen bottom), whose wake took place in Brazil
'I am dismayed after having been informed that I am apparently being criticised by some people for having taken a selfie and pictures at the ceremony yesterday,' Infantino wrote on Instagram.
'In the case of the selfie, Pelé's team-mates asked to do a selfie of all of us together but they didn't know how to do it.
'So, to be helpful, I took the phone of one of them and took the photo of all of us for him.
'If being helpful to a teammate of Pelé creates criticism I'm happy to take it and will continue to be helpful wherever I can to those having contributed to write legendary pages of football.'
Rather than stop there Infantino then called on his critics to come out and apologise for their remarks.
'I hope that those who published or said things without knowing and without seeking information could have the decency and courage to admit they were wrong and correct what they said,' he added.
Thousands of mourners, including Pele's wife and brother, passed through the Vila Belmiro, home to Pele's longtime club Santos, where the open casket bearing 'The King' was displayed on a temporary structure in the centre of the pitch.
It was there, next to Pele's coffin, that Infantino appeared to stop to take a selfie with a group of men - including former Santos player Manoel Maria - feet away from the body of the late football legend.
Pictured: Infantino stops to take a selfie with a group, a matter of feet from Pele's casket
Pele's
