Topline<\/p>\n
FIFA appeared to crop out President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino from pictures shared to social media celebrating Spain\u2019s World Cup victory over Argentina\u2014but the White House shared a series of pictures Monday afternoon that all prominently feature the president.<\/p>\n
Trump and Infantino presented the World Cup trophy to Spain on Sunday. (Photo by Dan Mullan\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Getty ImagesKey Facts<\/p>\n
Pictures shared to FIFA\u2019s official social media<\/a> accounts following the World Cup final, depicting the Spanish team holding the trophy on stage at MetLife Stadium, appear carefully cropped to exclude Trump, who stood near the team while they celebrated. <\/p>\n A photo<\/a> the Spanish team posted on Instagram immediately after the match also does not include Trump, nor does a 20-slide post<\/a> from later Sunday night that shows the team celebrating.<\/p>\n But on Monday afternoon, the White House shared<\/a> six pictures from the final on social media, all of which include Trump\u2014in two of which he is the only person in focus\u2014while only two of the pictures include the Spanish team.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s presentation<\/a> of the trophy was described by some commentators as awkward<\/a>, as Infantino apparently attempted to guide Trump away from the team as they lifted the trophy and confetti launched from cannons.<\/p>\n Trump and Infantino were also met with boos<\/a> from the crowd when they appeared on screen and entered the field for the trophy presentation, though a Spanish player mimicked<\/a> the president\u2019s \u201cTrump dance,\u201d which he often performs to the Village People\u2019s \u201cY.M.C.A.,\u201d while Trump was on stage. <\/p>\n As Trump and Infantino stood nearby while the Spanish team celebrated, one Australian commentator<\/a>, Claudio Fabiano, was caught on his mic saying, \u201cThey\u2019re gonna edit him out of that.\u201d<\/p>\n surprising fact<\/p>\n Trump did nearly the same thing last year when he and Infantino presented the Club World Cup trophy to Chelsea. While Infantino moved out of the frame, the president stayed front and center while the team lifted the trophy. Chelsea\u2019s captain Reece James said<\/a> after the game he was told Trump would \u201cpresent the trophy, and then exit the stage,\u201d while player Cole Palmer said he was \u201ca bit confused\u201d by the incident. <\/p>\n tangent<\/p>\n Trump and Infantino courted controversy throughout the World Cup, with some FIFA fans accusing the organization\u2019s president of cozying up to Trump ahead of the United States hosting the tournament. Sepp Blatter<\/a>, a former FIFA president, called the organization a \u201cdictatorship\u201d in February and accused Infantino of being \u201csubmissive\u201d to and currying favor with Trump. Controversy erupted after Trump called<\/a> Infantino before FIFA lifted U.S. striker Folarin Balogun\u2019s red card suspension, though Trump has said he did not tell Infantino what to do. Infantino has also faced accusations from some fans that the organization has favored Argentina and its star player, Lionel Messi. FIFA has faced allegations of favoring Argentina<\/a> for years, though the accusations gained steam this year after Argentina\u2019s controversial win over Egypt, which led the Egyptian team to raise questions about \u201cconsistency and fairness.\u201d<\/p>\n key background<\/p>\n Spain won<\/a> the World Cup over reigning champions Argentina on Sunday, scoring a single goal in overtime to claim the trophy. The win was Spain\u2019s first since 2010, and it halted Argentina from being the first team since Brazil in 1962 from winning back-to-back titles. Argentina was down<\/a> one player in the final stretch after Enzo Fernandez was sent off with a red card after tackling Spain\u2019s Pau Cubarsi\u0301, who was sent flying. <\/p>\n further reading<\/p>\n A World Cup known for officiating controversy ends with Argentina seeing red<\/a> (NBC News)<\/p>\n Why Some Accuse FIFA Of Favoring Argentina In World Cup Final<\/a> (Forbes)<\/p>\n