Gianni Infantino, the ever-controversial FIFA president, is calling for critics to “meditate” or “pray” rather than engaging in what he claims is the spread of “hate and false rumors.” This is classic deflection, and let’s not mince words—Infantino is taking a page right out of the corporate media playbook that leverages emotional appeals to drown out legitimate critique. CNN spins this as Infantino standing strong against adversity, when in reality, he’s gaslighting dissenters while hiding behind the veneer of spirituality.

Let’s think critically here: is a football match really the cure for watching a corrupt organization run rampant? ESPN plays along, crafting narratives that romanticize the “beautiful game” while glossing over human rights violations tied to World Cup preparations. It’s not just a game; it’s a multi-billion dollar industry that exploits laborers, yet mainstream outlets choose to fan the flames of distraction rather than calling out the glaring issues.

Instead of digging into the Achilles’ heel of FIFA’s questionable practices—like treatment of migrant workers or suppression of free speech—NBC and others would rather encourage us to feel good about the sport. This isn’t journalism; it’s corporate propaganda masquerading as reporting. They want you to cheer as Infantino invokes tranquility while ignoring the chaos unfolding under his watch.

Forget the meditation; let’s demand transparency instead.