The Council of Europe's secretary general, Alain Berset, has accused Fifa of providing an 'open door to fraud' and allowing political influence to undermine the integrity of the 2026 World Cup. In an open letter published ahead of Sunday's final, Berset called for a new integrity framework before the 2030 tournament, warning that Fifa is embroiled in a crisis involving money and power.
Betting and Fraud Concerns
Berset criticized Fifa's partnership with ADI Predictstreet, which became the World Cup's official prediction market partner in April. He stated, 'Betting has moved from the result of a match to moments a single player can produce without changing the score. A bet is won by making others lose. It is an open door to fraud. And this World Cup has opened the door wider.'
The Council of Europe and Fifa signed a memorandum of understanding in 2018 to strengthen work on human rights, integrity, and good governance in sport, making Berset's public criticism highly unusual.
Balogun Suspension Controversy
Berset referenced the scandal surrounding Fifa's decision to lift the suspension of USA striker Folarin Balogun, which occurred after a phone call between Fifa president Gianni Infantino and US President Donald Trump. 'When the rules bend under pressure, every result is open to doubt,' Berset wrote. Infantino has defended the decision, saying it was taken independently by Fifa's disciplinary committee based on applicable regulations and facts.
Seventy-two members of the European parliament have called for an investigation into Infantino's involvement in the Balogun case, citing alleged breaches of political neutrality and Fifa's own code of ethics. However, Uefa is unlikely to take formal action.
Political Interference and Racism
Berset also made apparent allusions to comments by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla about Kylian Mbappé and former Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy about the France team, highlighting racist abuse of players from elected officials. He wrote, 'A sanction suspended under pressure, within days, with no reasons given. The authority of referees called into question. Racist abuse of players, some of it from elected officials. Betting on every pass, every card, every corner. The celebration will end tonight. The questions will not.'
Call for Reform
Berset proposed a 'working dialogue that starts tonight' to begin urgent work on strengthening sport integrity before future World Cups. He referenced the Council of Europe's role in creating a binding treaty after the 1985 Heysel Stadium disaster and legislation against doping and match-fixing.
This comes after the Guardian revealed that over 200 of Fifa's member associations have formally backed Infantino's attempt to be re-elected for a fourth term in March. Fifa was contacted for comment but did not respond.
