FIFA governance under fire as Europe warns of betting fraud risk
The Council of Europe has publicly rebuked FIFA over micro-betting partnerships and political interference, raising regulatory risks ahead of the European-hosted 2030 World Cup.
Alain Berset, secretary general of the Council of Europe, has issued a rare public rebuke of FIFA, accusing the governing body of opening the door to fraud through its betting partnerships and allowing political pressure to compromise its disciplinary processes.
In an open letter released on Sunday, Berset targeted FIFA’s agreement with ADI Predictstreet, which became the World Cup’s official prediction market partner in April. He warned that shifting betting from match outcomes to micro-events like individual passes or corners creates severe manipulation risks. “A bet is won by making others lose. It is an open door to fraud,” Berset wrote. “And this World Cup has opened the door wider.”
The intervention highlighted a growing governance crisis surrounding FIFA president Gianni Infantino, specifically the abrupt reversal of a suspension for US striker Folarin Balogun. That reversal followed a phone call from US President Donald Trump to Infantino. “When the rules bend under pressure, every result is open to doubt,” Berset wrote, while Infantino has claimed the disciplinary committee acted independently “based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts.”
This public criticism is highly unusual given the 2018 memorandum of understanding between FIFA and the Council of Europe to collaborate on good governance. It signals mounting regulatory friction in Europe, where the 2030 World Cup is primarily scheduled to take place. Berset has called for an urgent new integrity framework before that tournament begins.
The letter follows a push by 72 members of the European parliament last week demanding an investigation into Infantino’s handling of the Balogun case for alleged breaches of political neutrality and FIFA’s ethics code. Separately, 50 EU parliamentarians previously questioned FIFA’s awarding of a peace prize to Trump. It does not appear likely that UEFA will formally take the matter further.
Despite the escalating political and institutional backlash, Infantino’s position appears secure. More than 200 of FIFA’s member associations have formally backed his re-election for a fourth term in March. FIFA did not provide a comment for publication.
