FIFA is facing renewed scrutiny over the governance and integrity of international football after Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset issued an open letter questioning several developments connected with the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Berset argued that recent controversies had weakened public confidence in football’s global governing structure and called for a new integrity framework to be developed before the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

The concerns raised include the rapid expansion of sports betting, the independence of disciplinary decisions, political influence, racist abuse directed at players and questions surrounding the authority of match officials.

Open Letter Questions Football Governance

Berset released the letter around the conclusion of the tournament, stating that several incidents had raised broader concerns about transparency, fairness and accountability.

He suggested that confidence in international football can be damaged when disciplinary outcomes appear unpredictable or when rules appear to be applied differently under external pressure.

The letter also questioned whether existing governance mechanisms are strong enough to address new risks created by technology, commercial partnerships and increasingly complex betting markets.

Expansion of Betting Markets Raises Risks

One of the central issues identified in the letter was FIFA’s reported partnership with ADI Predictstreet, which became an official prediction-market partner of the tournament in April 2026.

Berset noted that modern sports betting is no longer limited to predicting the final result of a match.

Betting products may now cover:

• Individual player actions
• Corners and free kicks
• Yellow and red cards
• Substitutions
• Specific in-game events
• Short periods within a match

According to Berset, the growth of highly specific betting markets may create additional opportunities for manipulation, insider misuse and fraudulent activity.

Integrity Risks Beyond Match Results

Traditional match-fixing investigations generally focus on whether the final result of a game was manipulated.

However, event-based betting can create incentives to influence smaller incidents that may not necessarily change the final score.

These incidents can be difficult to detect because an individual yellow card, corner or minor in-game decision may appear insignificant when viewed separately.

Integrity experts have therefore increasingly emphasised the importance of monitoring betting patterns, player conduct, referee decisions and unusual market activity together.

Disciplinary Decision Draws Attention

Berset also referred to FIFA’s decision to lift the suspension imposed on United States striker Folarin Balogun.

He argued that public confidence can be affected when disciplinary decisions appear to change after political or external pressure.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, however, has maintained that the decision was taken independently by the organisation’s disciplinary committee in accordance with applicable regulations and the specific circumstances of the case.

No competent authority has concluded that the decision was improperly influenced.

Independence of Disciplinary Bodies

The controversy has renewed debate over whether FIFA’s disciplinary and ethics bodies operate with sufficient independence from political, commercial and executive influence.

For disciplinary systems to retain credibility, decisions should be:

• Based on clearly published rules
• Supported by written reasoning
• Applied consistently
• Protected from outside pressure
• Open to a transparent appeal process

Where decisions are reversed or modified, stakeholders may expect a clear explanation of the legal and factual basis for the change.

Racist Abuse and Referee Authority

The open letter also raised concerns about racist abuse directed at players during the tournament.

Berset suggested that sporting bodies must provide stronger and more consistent protection to players while ensuring that disciplinary responses are timely and effective.

Questions were also raised regarding the authority of referees and whether match officials receive adequate institutional support when making difficult decisions.

The credibility of a competition can be weakened if referees are perceived as vulnerable to external influence or inconsistent disciplinary intervention.

Unusual Public Criticism Between Partners

The intervention carries additional significance because FIFA and the Council of Europe signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2018.

The agreement was intended to strengthen cooperation in areas including:

• Human rights
• Good governance
• Sporting integrity
• Anti-discrimination
• Protection of athletes

Public criticism between the two organisations is considered unusual and indicates the seriousness of the concerns raised by the Council of Europe.

Call for a New Integrity Framework

Berset called for an immediate dialogue among football organisations, governments and international institutions.

He argued that a stronger framework should be established before the 2030 World Cup to address emerging risks and strengthen public trust.

The Council of Europe has previously contributed to international legal frameworks concerning:

• Stadium safety
• Anti-doping enforcement
• Match-fixing
• Spectator protection
• Sports governance

Berset suggested that football integrity now requires a similarly coordinated international response.

European Lawmakers Seek Independent Review

The issue has also attracted political attention within Europe.

Several Members of the European Parliament have reportedly called for an independent investigation into FIFA’s handling of recent disciplinary decisions and the role of its leadership.

Some lawmakers have questioned whether FIFA’s actions were consistent with its stated principles of political neutrality and ethical governance.

However, there has been no indication that UEFA intends to initiate formal proceedings at this stage.

FIFA Leadership Retains Strong Support

FIFA has not issued a detailed response to all the concerns raised in the open letter.

At the same time, more than 200 FIFA member associations have reportedly expressed support for Gianni Infantino’s attempt to secure another term as FIFA President.

This indicates that he continues to enjoy significant institutional backing despite criticism from external organisations and political representatives.

Governance Debate Likely to Continue

The controversy has intensified discussion about how international football should regulate betting partnerships, disciplinary processes and political relationships.

Key questions now include:

• Whether prediction-market partnerships require stronger safeguards
• How disciplinary independence can be demonstrated
• Whether decisions should include greater public reasoning
• How political neutrality should be enforced
• What protections should be introduced against match manipulation

These issues are likely to remain central as preparations for the 2030 World Cup advance.

Any allegations of improper influence or governance failure remain subject to independent review and formal determination.

Shunyatax Global Insight

Global sports bodies increasingly operate at the intersection of entertainment, financial markets, politics and international regulation. As betting products become more detailed, integrity controls must extend beyond match results to individual events, data access, conflicts of interest and unusual market behaviour.

FIFA and other sports organisations should strengthen independent disciplinary review, publish clear reasons for major decisions and subject commercial betting partnerships to enhanced risk assessment. Transparency is essential not only to prevent misconduct but also to protect public confidence in the fairness of international sport.