Infantino also addressed criticism surrounding the standard of refereeing at the tournament, particularly concerns about political interference after US striker Folarin Balogun was made available for the round of 16 match when FIFA lifted his one-match suspension, following intervention by US President Donald Trump.

Of the other 191 red cards shown at a men’s World Cup, only one other player escaped a suspension.

UEFA said the decision had “crossed a red line”, calling it “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable”, while the Norwegian Football Association is considering making a formal complaint to FIFA’s ethics committee.

Infantino, however, argued that such decisions are not out of the ordinary, stating that similar decisions are “routine and widely accepted in some of the world’s biggest leagues.”

And he added: “It is curious that the same countries that use these practices are the ones that criticize.”

The International Olympic Committee has said it will not investigate Infantino for possible breaches of political neutrality, saying the complaint brought by human rights campaign group FairSquare falls outside the jurisdiction of its ethics commission.

Infantino’s advice to his opponents was to “show some love” and “respect” to a tournament where “people came together as families, as fans, as one.”

“To everyone who missed our beautiful game, the emotions, the celebrations, the laughter, the crying, the deceit and the joy. To everyone who missed seeing children, babies, grandparents and parents come together for the beautiful game… I’m sorry you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all,” Infantino wrote.

“While they celebrated, you were busy planting seeds of hate. Our world needs love, not hate; tolerance, not division; celebration, not mourning.

“To those who spend their time and energy hating us, please take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray or watch a football game and truly observe the faces, the eyes, the emotions.

“Because only our beautiful game can offer such an extraordinary spectacle, a spectacle in which everyone becomes one and reconnects as humans.

“I am incredibly proud, as FIFA president, to have contributed, even a little, to this spectacle. It is a great feeling.”