GENEVA — The Council of Europe, Europe’s leading human rights organization, has raised concerns about the integrity of the World Cup, calling on FIFA to establish a robust framework for the upcoming 2030 tournament, which will primarily take place in Spain and Portugal.
“The next crisis has already begun, fueled by the twin forces of money and power,” stated the head of the 46-nation Council of Europe in an open letter to FIFA just hours before the final between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Alain Berset, a Swiss politician, pointed to FIFA’s controversial suspension of a ban on U.S. forward Folarin Balogun, a decision made under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump amidst concerns regarding the integrity of a sponsorship deal with a prediction market.
“When rules are bent under pressure, every outcome becomes questionable,” Berset remarked about Balogun’s exemption from a mandatory one-game suspension, enabling him to compete against Belgium—a match Belgium ultimately won 4-1.
“Political influence has infiltrated the game,” added Berset, who has served as president of FIFA’s home country Switzerland twice. “The lifting of a sanction during the tournament was precipitated by intervention from a head of state.”
In April, FIFA entered a $150 million sponsorship agreement with ADI Predictstreet, just a week after the Abu Dhabi-based firm was formed. Additionally, FIFA has numerous commercial agreements with the gambling industry for this World Cup.
Betting on predictions has faced scrutiny for promoting insider trading, with Berset pointing out that such wagering can be based on “individual moments a player might create without altering the score.”
“This opens the door to fraud,” he cautioned. “And this World Cup has widened that door even further.”
The Council of Europe voiced its concerns publicly, despite a formal partnership with FIFA established in 2018.
The intergovernmental organization, which developed the European Convention on Human Rights, aims to “promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across Europe and beyond.”
When the FIFA-CoE memorandum was signed eight years ago, Infantino remarked, “This is a natural association as we share common values and objectives: transparency, accountability, integrity, safety in sports, and respect for human rights, including children’s rights.”
Infantino and Berset met in 2024 during the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
FIFA’s decision regarding Balogun drew sharp criticism from UEFA, which stated it “crossed a red line” in maintaining the rule of law and transparency in soccer. FIFA has yet to release the documents explaining its disciplinary ruling from the United Arab Emirates.
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“A sanction lifted under duress, within days and without justification,” noted Berset, who also raised further issues regarding the first-ever 48-team, 104-game World Cup.
“The authority of referees is in question. Players are facing racist abuse, some from elected officials. Betting is happening on every pass, card, and corner.”
The next men’s World Cup will primarily be held in Europe, with Morocco as a co-host. Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay are set to host one match each at the inception of the centenary edition in June 2030, commemorating the original 1930 World Cup in Uruguay.
“Therefore, I propose to FIFA a working dialogue that initiates tonight to establish an integrity framework for the 2030 World Cup before it kicks off,” Berset concluded.