The Council of Europe's secretary general has accused Fifa of providing an "open door to fraud" and allowing political influence to cast doubt on the World Cup's integrity. In an open letter published ahead of Sunday's final, Alain Berset called for a new integrity framework before the 2030 tournament and warned that Fifa faces a crisis involving money and power.
Berset's accusations
Berset referenced the scandal surrounding Fifa's decision to suspend and then reinstate USA striker Folarin Balogun, as well as alleged racist abuse 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."
Fifa and the Council of Europe signed a memorandum of understanding in 2018 to strengthen cooperation on human rights, integrity, and good governance in sport. Open criticism between partners is extremely rare.
Betting and fraud concerns
Berset criticized Fifa's deal with ADI Predictstreet, the World Cup's official prediction market partner. "Betting has moved from the result of a match to moments a single player can produce without changing the score," he said. "A bet is won by making others lose. It is an open door to fraud. And this World Cup has opened the door wider."
Regarding Balogun's ban being lifted after a phone call between Fifa president Gianni Infantino and US president Donald Trump, Berset said: "When the rules bend under pressure, every result is open to doubt." Infantino has said the decision was made independently by Fifa's disciplinary committee based on regulations and facts.
Call for action
Berset proposed a "working dialogue that starts tonight" to strengthen sport integrity before future World Cups. He cited the Council of Europe's work creating a binding treaty after the 1985 Heysel disaster and legislation tackling doping and match-fixing.
Seventy-two members of the European parliament wrote to 27 EU-based football associations requesting an investigation into Infantino's involvement in the Balogun case, citing alleged breaches of political neutrality and Fifa's code of ethics. Fifty MEPs also wrote to Infantino in June requesting an investigation into awarding the Fifa peace prize to Trump.
Uefa appears unlikely to formally pursue the matter. More than 200 of Fifa's member associations have backed Infantino's re-election bid for a fourth term in March. Fifa was contacted for comment.
