“Head of the Council of Europe accuses FIFA of opening the door to betting fraud.”

A FIFA is opening a wide door to fraud in football, accuses the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, in a harsh criticism that casts a shadow over the integrity of the World Cup. Berset denounced FIFA's agreement with a betting company and warned of the political influence that is threatening the credibility of the tournament, whose final takes place this Sunday.

In an open letter published simultaneously with the last match, the Swiss official warns of various controversies that have marked the competition, including the suspended suspension of American forward Folarin Balogun following a direct political intervention, questioning the authority of referees, racist abuse against players — some coming from political figures — and the proliferation of bets on every moment of the game, from cards to corners. Berset stated: “The celebration ends tonight. The questions do not.”

This warning is particularly relevant considering the memorandum of understanding in force since 2018 between FIFA and the Council of Europe, which aims to promote human rights, integrity, and good governance in sport. Public criticism from one partner to another is extremely rare, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.

The Secretary-General pointed directly to FIFA's contract with ADI Predictstreet, the official market forecasting company for the World Cup since April, and rejected the betting model that goes beyond the final result to bet on specifics of the game, such as individual moments of players. “A bet wins when another loses. It is an open door to fraud. And this World Cup has opened that door even wider,” Berset warned.

In the specific case of Balogun, whose suspension was lifted following a call from former U.S. President Donald Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Berset criticized: “When the rules bend under pressure, the entire outcome is in doubt.” Infantino, however, defended that the decision was made by FIFA's disciplinary committee “independently, based on the applicable rules and the specific facts.”

Berset proposed the immediate opening of a “working dialogue” to reinforce the integrity of football ahead of the 2030 World Cup, which will predominantly take place in Europe. He recalled the role of the Council of Europe in legislating on fan safety following the Heysel tragedy, as well as measures against doping and match-fixing.

This public intervention comes at a time when 72 Members of the European Parliament have requested that national football associations in the EU investigate Infantino's interference in Balogun's disciplinary process, pointing to possible violations of FIFA's ethical code and political neutrality. Although UEFA does not seem willing to formally advance the case, the debate on ethics and transparency in world football is more alive than ever.

The controversy surrounding the 2026 World Cup, along with alleged political influence and the rise of detailed betting, puts pressure on FIFA to implement deep reforms that ensure transparency and fairness in the sport. The challenge is clear: to restore credibility to football that is at risk on the most important stage on the planet.

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