{"id":39810,"date":"2026-07-19T14:01:31","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T14:01:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/19\/european-rights-groups-question-the-integrity-of-the-fifa-world-cup\/"},"modified":"2026-07-19T14:01:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T14:01:31","slug":"european-rights-groups-question-the-integrity-of-the-fifa-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/19\/european-rights-groups-question-the-integrity-of-the-fifa-world-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"European rights groups question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"
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GENEVA (AP) \u2014 Europe’s top human rights body has questioned the integrity of human rights groups. world cup<\/span> And on Sunday, it called on FIFA to help build a stronger framework for the 2030 tournament, which will be mainly held in Spain and Portugal.<\/p>\n
“The next crisis has already begun. It has two names: money and power,” the president of the 46-nation Council of Europe wrote in a paper on Sunday. Open letter to official working partner FIFA<\/span> Hours before the final between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, New Jersey.<\/p>\n
Swiss politician Alain Berset cited FIFA’s suspension. U.S. national team forward Folarin Bargan suspended<\/span> meanwhile Following pressure from US President Donald Trump<\/span> and the risk of fraud when soccer organizations contract with prediction markets to sponsor the World Cup.<\/p>\n
“When the rules are bent under pressure, any outcome is open to question,” Barceto wrote regarding Balogun’s release from a mandatory one-match suspension. play against belgium<\/span> A place in the quarterfinals is at stake. Belgium won 4-1.<\/p>\n
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July 6, 2026 in Seattle, Folarin Balogun attack over the final Mundial Los Octavos and Belgian confrontation. (AP Photo\/Manu Fernandes)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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July 6, 2026 in Seattle, Folarin Balogun attack over the final Mundial Los Octavos and Belgian confrontation. (AP Photo\/Manu Fernandes)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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“Political influence extends to the field,” said Berset, who twice served as FIFA’s president in his home country of Switzerland. “The suspension of sanctions mid-tournament was issued after the head of state called the FIFA president.”<\/p>\n
FIFA signed a prediction market sponsorship deal with ADI Predictstreet in April worth a reported $150 million, a week after the Abu Dhabi-backed company was officially established. Also available in FIFA Other commercial transactions<\/span> For this World Cup, we collaborated with the gambling industry.<\/p>\n
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U.S. President Donald Trump (left) shakes hands with then-Swiss President Alain Berset during talks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Friday, January 26, 2018. (AP Photo\/Evan Vucci, File)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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U.S. President Donald Trump (left) shakes hands with then-Swiss President Alain Berset during talks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Friday, January 26, 2018. (AP Photo\/Evan Vucci, File)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Prediction betting<\/span> Insider trading has been criticized as lucrative, and Belset pointed out that in soccer, winning bets can be made on “the moments that one player can create without changing the score.”<\/p>\n
“This is an open door to fraud,” he wrote. \u201cAnd this World Cup has opened that door even wider.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Council of Europe (CoE) formal collective agreement<\/span> FIFA signed President Gianni Infantino in 2018.<\/p>\n
The intergovernmental body that created the European Convention on Human Rights has a mandate to “promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law throughout Europe and the rest of the world.”<\/p>\n
“This is a natural relationship as we share common values \u200b\u200band goals such as transparency, accountability, integrity, safety in sport and respect for human and children’s rights,” Infantino said when signing the FIFA-CoE Memorandum of Understanding eight years ago.<\/p>\n
Infantino and Bellset We met in 2024<\/span> On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.<\/p>\n
FIFA’s disciplinary action against Balogun was heavily criticized by European soccer body UEFA, which said the decision “crossed a red line” in terms of the rule of law and transparency in soccer. FIFA has not yet released a document explaining the reasoning of the disciplinary judge, who is from the United Arab Emirates.<\/p>\n
“The sanctions were suspended within a few days due to pressure, with no reason given,” Berset wrote, adding other concerns about the initial 48-team, 104-game World Cup.<\/p>\n
“The referee’s authority was questioned. racist abuse of athletes<\/span>some of which comes from elected officials. Bet on every pass, every card, every corner. \u201d<\/p>\n
The next Men’s World Cup will be held primarily in Europe, with Morocco also co-hosting it. South American neighbors Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay are currently scheduled to host one match each at the start of the centenary tournament in June 2030, in honor of Uruguay hosting the 1930 World Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, this is my proposal to FIFA,\u201d Berset wrote. \u201cThe dialogue begins tonight to build an honest framework for the 2030 World Cup before it is held.\u201d<\/p>\n
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See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n