FIFA President Gianni Infantino has come under fire after appearing to defend U.S. President Donald Trump amid a growing controversy involving World Cup referees.

The Trump administration denied entry to the United States to Somali referee Omar Artan, despite his reportedly holding a valid visa and being one of the officials selected to work at the tournament. Somalia is among the countries affected by U.S. travel restrictions, a policy that took effect at the start of the year.

Gianni Infantino Angers Fans With ‘Chill’ Remark

Infantino’s remarks about the U.S. refusal to allow Somali referee Omar Artan into the country have sparked backlash from critics, despite his apparent attempt to address concerns surrounding the incident.

Speaking to reporters, the FIFA president acknowledged that what happened to Artan was “unfortunate” but insisted the matter was beyond his control, per Sky News.

He then urged fans to “chill and relax,” a remark that only intensified frustration among supporters already upset over the referee controversy and the high cost of tournament tickets.

Infantino also appeared to argue that the “screaming and shouting” from fans and critics has the “opposite effect” when it comes to finding solutions to such complex issues.

“We are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces; we are a sports organization,” the soccer chief added.

Critics Accuse Infantino Of Cozying Up To Donald Trump

Many fans have branded Infantino’s comments as a poor use of his authority, with some accusing him of trying to curry favor with the Trump administration. Others branded the remarks tone-deaf.

“If this was happening in any other host country, everyone would be boycotting the World Cup and trashing the host nation. It’s crazy how everyone just keeps licking the US’ boot,” one angry fan commented.

“Tbh I have zero interest in tuning in since FIFA gave Trump a peace prize (ahead of him starting an unnecessary war, natch). I used to try and get into the World Cup when it was on, but I’m not even bothering this year, and tone-deaf stuff like this just solidifies that feeling,” another online commentator wrote.

Gianni Infantino Says Security Comes First

As part of his remarks, Infantino sought to justify the Trump administration’s position by suggesting that most host nations would respond similarly in similar situations.

He urged people to “respect the decisions,” arguing that “security goes above everything” in what he described as an increasingly “aggressive world.”

“When I say ‘chill’, I don’t mean ‘chill and do nothing,’ I mean to trust us,” Infantino added, in an attempt to clarify his earlier remark. “We always try to make the situation as positive as possible and find solutions. Sometimes we manage, sometimes we do not.”

FIFA Chief Addresses Costly World Cup Tickets

Ahead of the World Cup, complaints over soaring ticket prices have continued to mount, with many fans expressing frustration over the staggering cost of attending matches, particularly the final.

Some tickets for the final have been listed for several thousand dollars, while one seat was even spotted on FIFA’s official resale platform in May with an eye-watering price tag of $11.5 million.

Despite the backlash, Infantino defended the pricing last month, arguing that such costs are justified within the North American market.

“We have to look at the market – we are in the market in which entertainment is the most developed in the world. So, we have to apply market rates,” Infantino said of the organization’s dynamic pricing strategy at an event held in Beverly Hills.

Gianni Infantino Rules Out Major Ticket Price Cuts

Infantino also indicated that there are currently no plans to lower prices beyond the “Supporter Entry Tier” already introduced, which offers tickets starting at $60.

“If you sell it at a lower price point, it would have gone on secondary markets at much higher prices,” he said. “Where would the money go then? To those who organized secondary or black-market activities, and not to football.”

Further defending the organization’s position, Infantino stated that “every dollar that comes in goes back to the development of football.”

“We have one competition every four years. The 47 other months out of the 48, we are investing this revenue in growth. Nobody else is doing that,” the FIFA president also argued.