Europe rights body asks FIFA to protect football’s integrity
The Council of Europe has called on FIFA to do more to protect the integrity of football after saying the 2026 World Cup raised serious concerns.
The organisation said issues such as political interference, racist abuse of players and the growing influence of sports betting have affected the tournament.
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Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset said the World Cup may end with Sunday’s final between Argentina and Spain, but the concerns it raised will remain.
“The tournament will end tonight, but the questions will not,” he said.
Berset urged FIFA to begin work immediately on stronger rules to protect the integrity of the 2030 World Cup.
He criticised what he described as political influence in football, referring to US President Donald Trump’s request for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the suspension of US striker Folarin Balogun.
“When rules change because of pressure, people may begin to doubt the fairness of the game,” Berset said.
He also questioned FIFA’s decision to partner with a prediction betting company for the first time.
According to him, betting is no longer limited to match results but now covers individual events during games, increasing the risk of fraud and match manipulation.
The Council of Europe has long worked to improve safety and fairness in sport. It has introduced agreements on football fan safety, anti-doping measures and the fight against match-fixing.
Berset said the end of the World Cup should mark the beginning of efforts to strengthen trust and fairness in football before the 2030 tournament.
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