Council of Europe Secretary-General Alain Berset on Sunday called on FIFA to protect football from political and financial pressures ahead of the 2030 World Cup, urging the governing body to begin what he described as a “third half” focused on safeguarding the integrity of the sport.
Hours before the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, Berset said the 2026 tournament had raised “a whole series of questions,” pointing in particular to FIFA’s decision to suspend the red card issued to U.S. player Folarin Balogun.
Berset criticized the move, saying FIFA had offered no explanation after the sanction was reportedly lifted following an intervention by U.S. President Donald Trump.
“A punishment was suspended during the tournament after a head of state contacted the president of FIFA,” Berset said in a statement sent to Agence France-Presse. “Political influence now extends even onto the pitch.”
The Council of Europe chief argued that FIFA must urgently strengthen the integrity of football, warning that the sport is increasingly threatened by “money and influence.”
He also referred to what he described as the suspension of disciplinary measures “under pressure” and growing doubts over the authority of referees during the tournament.
Berset further condemned racist abuse directed at players, noting that some of the insults came from elected officials, and expressed concern about the growing reach of sports betting.
“Betting no longer concerns only the outcome of matches,” he said. “It now covers every pass, every card and every corner kick.”
He warned that gamblers can now profit from incidents that do not alter the final result, creating opportunities for fraud and manipulation.
“One can win a bet by causing others to lose,” Berset said. “This opens the door to fraudulent schemes.”
The secretary-general added that the 2026 World Cup had expanded those risks, noting that, for the first time, FIFA included among its official partners a company operating in the prediction markets sector, with a visible presence inside stadiums.
The Council of Europe, which comprises 46 member states, is Europe’s leading institution on human rights issues.
Berset called on FIFA to begin “a constructive dialogue starting this evening” to establish an integrity framework that could be implemented at the 2030 World Cup.
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