Gianni Infantino has revealed FIFA will ask every country in the world to name a stadium after Pele following his death last week.
The Brazilian icon died aged 82 and Infantino will ask countries to honour one of the all-time greats with the gesture.
Speaking as Pele’s funeral began in Santos on Monday, Infantino said: ‘We are going to ask that all countries in the world have at least one stadium with the name of Pele.’
Gianni Infantino said he will ask every country to name a stadium after Pele following his death
The FIFA president was among the mourners as Pele’s funeral began in Brazil on Monday
Infantino continued that the reason behind this idea would be ‘so that children know Pele’s importance’.
An emotional Brazil began paying its respects to football legend Pele today, as his coffin arrived at the stadium where he first took the world’s breath away.
Hundreds of fans began filing into the Vila Belmiro, home to Pele’s longtime club Santos, where the open casket bearing the body of ‘The King’ was displayed at the centre circle this morning.
Pele’s casket was carried to the centre of the pitch and fans will be able to pay their respects for 24 hours
The casket, which was placed under an awning and surrounded by bouquets of white flowers, will remain there for 24 hours.
Pele is the only player to have won the World Cup three times, lifting the trophy with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
During his more than 20 years as a professional footballer, Pele also amassed over 1,200 career goals.
It is unlikely that Infantino’s idea to name all these stadiums after Pele will be particularly well received.
This is the latest public comment from Infantino, who wants to remain president until 2021, to have raised eyebrows.
Pele is the only footballer to have won three World Cups, winning in 1958, 1962 and 1970
Infantino has recently come under fire for his relationship with Salt Bae, who was seen trying to gatecrash Argentina’s celebrations on the pitch after they had beaten France in the World Cup final.
FIFA have said that ‘internal action will be taken’ following the incident which saw the celebrity butcher pose with Lionel Messi and Co.
During the build-up to the World Cup, Infantino also confused fans with a bizarre pre-tournament speech.
Brazilian icon Pele is widely renowned as one of the greatest footballers of all time
