FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he was “very reassured” about Mexico’s hosting of games in the football World Cup, in his first comments on the violence triggered by the killing of a drug cartel leader.
“Very reassured, everything’s good. It’s going to be spectacular,” Infantino said in the Colombian city of Barranquilla, two days after cartel members went on a rampage—including in host city Guadalajara—over the army’s killing of their leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera.
However, Infantino’s optimism was not reflected by the Portuguese Football Federation, who cast doubt on whether their team would play a friendly match on March 29th in Mexico City.
The federation said it was “closely monitoring the delicate situation currently unfolding in Mexico.” It added that the safety of players, coaches and supporters was a top priority and security considerations would be the deciding factor.
Earlier, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also assured that there was “no risk” to World Cup fans and said the situation was “gradually returning to normal.”
