Council of Europe chief accuses FIFA of bending rules under Trump pressure and opening door to fraud with betting deal

Berset's open letter on final day

Hours before Spain and Argentina kicked off in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset published an open letter accusing FIFA of allowing political pressure and commercial betting to erode the tournament's integrity. The 46-nation body, based in Strasbourg and overseeing human rights in Europe since 1949, signed a cooperation agreement with FIFA in 2018. That memorandum of understanding pledged joint work on transparency, accountability and integrity. Infantino said at the time: "It is a natural relationship, as we share common values and goals." Berset wrote that the 2026 World Cup "has raised question after question" and warned: "The next crisis has already begun. It has two names: money and power."

The Balogun suspension and Trump's call

Berset pointed to the case of United States forward Folarin Balogun, who received a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina. FIFA's disciplinary committee suspended the automatic one-match ban after US President Donald Trump telephoned FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Balogun was cleared to face Belgium in a match that would decide a quarter-final place; Belgium won 4-1. "When the rules bend under pressure, every result is open to doubt," Berset wrote. Infantino has said the decision was taken independently based on regulations.

Political influence has also moved onto the field. The sanction suspended mid-tournament came after a head of state called the president of FIFA.

Prediction market deal opens 'door to fraud'

Berset also criticised FIFA's decision to sign a prediction market sponsor, ADI Predictstreet, in a deal reported at $150 million. The Abu Dhabi-backed company was formally created one week before the agreement was announced in April 2026. Berset argued that betting had shifted from match outcomes to micro-events such as individual passes, cards and corners, creating opportunities for manipulation. "A bet is won by making others lose. It is an open door to fraud. And this World Cup has opened the door wider," he said.

Betting has moved from the result of a match to moments a single player can produce without changing the score.

Racist abuse and referee authority

The letter also cited racist insults directed at players, some from elected officials. The Guardian identified comments by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla about Kylian Mbappé and by former Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy about the France team. Berset added that the authority of referees had been called into question during the tournament.

A 'third half' for the 2030 World Cup

Berset proposed a "third half", a working dialogue starting immediately after the final to develop an integrity framework before the 2030 World Cup, which will be staged in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. He recalled the Council of Europe's track record: after the 1985 Heysel stadium disaster, it drafted a binding treaty on spectator safety within three months, now signed by 39 states. It also created the Anti-Doping Convention, binding on 52 states, and an agreement against match-fixing.

Here is my proposal to FIFA: a third half. A constructive dialogue that starts tonight to develop the integrity framework for the 2030 World Cup before it is played.

The final whistle, Berset concluded, should mark "the start of the urgent work of strengthening the integrity of sport."