FIFA was forced to apologize after a presenter's glamorous outfit at the 2014 World Cup draw sparked backlash for allegedly breaking broadcasting guidelines in Iran. The incident occurred in December 2013 when actor and former model Fernanda Lima hosted the group stage draw alongside her husband, Rodrigo Hilbert.
Backlash Over Low-Cut Dress
Lima wowed viewers with her eye-catching gold dress, but Iranian TV host Adel Ferdosipour criticized the attire. He stated: 'To be honest with you, the dress of the lady who presents the show does not meet our broadcasting guidelines at all.' The criticism prompted an apology from FIFA, though a spokeswoman added: 'FIFA is sorry to hear that anybody took offence of this but on a personal note, as a woman, I would like to state there was nothing disrespectful about her dress.'
Racism Accusations
The controversy extended beyond the dress. Lima and Hilbert had replaced Afro-Brazilian soap stars Lazara Ramos and Camila Pitanga as hosts, leading to accusations of discrimination. Sao Paulo state prosecutor Christiano Jorge Santos said: 'Racism is a serious matter in Brazil. We need to find out if a crime was committed. We do not want the image of our people to be whitened or distorted.' Black dancers performing during the draw further fueled the debate, with Santos adding: 'This reinforces racism. It says black people can samba, but can't present the draw.' FIFA denied wrongdoing, stating a local firm made production decisions.
Criticism from Football Figures
Then-England captain Casey Stoney also spoke out: 'Giving the job to a model has sent out completely the wrong message. Unfortunately I wasn't surprised. They could have had a woman high up in the game or else a player with proper international standing. This should have been about football.'
Lima's Return to Football
Despite the backlash, Lima returned to present the Ballon d'Or ceremony in 2014 alongside Ruud Gullit, opting for a more conservative green dress. The 2026 World Cup currently features England preparing for the third-place play-off against France, with the final between Spain and Argentina.
