The Cure’s Robert Smith is not a fan of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, and like many other soccer purists, he is entirely against the idea of the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show.
“The half-time show, which has been curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, will feature Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira and the K‑pop boyband BTS,” Smith wrote in an Instagram post mocking Infantino. “Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantosser, has described the half-time show as ‘groundbreaking spectacle’ that will ‘celebrate football, music and our shared values, ensuring a legacy that transcends the final whistle.'”
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He continued, “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH… #Breadandcircuses #MUGWANK #pleasejustfuckoff.”
Shortly afterward, Smith followed up with another post clarifying that he was not specifically criticizing Martin or the performers. He also hit out at Infantino for presenting the World Cup trophy to the winners of the tournament with US president Donald Trump, of whom Smith is also not a fan:
“sigh… FOR THOSE OF US NOT QUITE GETTING IT: THE POINT IS NOT R E A L L Y ABOUT W H O IS CURATING OR PERFORMING, IT IS ABOUT THE #MUGWANK I D E A OF A FOOTBALL WORLD CUP FINAL HALF TIME SHOW… IF YOU NOW UNDERSTAND MY ‘AAAAAAAGH!’ A BIT BETTER, BUT STILL DON’T AGREE, PLEASE ADJUST YOUR RED CAP, YOUR ‘I 🖤 JANNY + DONNY + $$$’ TSHIRT AND… KNOCK YOURSELF OUT? ONWARDS… RSX PS. “Infantosser has said he and US president Trumpton will small hand over trophy on Sunday”. SADLY, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH A’S LEFT FOR THE ‘ARGH’ THAT SHOULD FOLLOW… #breadandcircuses #pleasejustfuckoff #fuckfifa #justlookup lostworld”
This year’s FIFA World Cup has drawn criticism for implementing mandatory “hydration breaks” during each game, allowing broadcasters to air more commercials and further Americanizing the sport.
The World Cup final will take place on Sunday, July 19th, between Spain and Argentina. England and France will compete in the third-place game the day before.
In other Robert Smith news, he recently collaborated with Olivia Rodrigo on the duet “what’s wrong with me” from her most recent album, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love.
