Infantino brushes off reporter’s question with hairdresser remark

Fifa president Gianni Infantino responded with a joke about hairdressers when a reporter questioned him outside a hotel in the Dominican Republic on Saturday about criticism over his handling of football’s world governing body. The exchange came after he was asked why he had not resigned despite calls from across the sport.

Sky News US correspondent James Matthews challenged Infantino over whether he had betrayed football by dropping a plan to sell World Cup commercial rights. Infantino replied, “I’ll see you at the hairdressers,” and added, “You have a nice haircut.”

The brief confrontation took place as Infantino was being approached outside the hotel. The comments were reported by Sky News and later circulated by other outlets.

Infantino has faced scrutiny over the abandoned proposal to sell off World Cup rights, which had drawn criticism from figures around the game. The episode adds to the pressure surrounding the Fifa president as he continues his public appearances in the Caribbean.