Baghdad: The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, has urged FIFA to take decisive steps to protect the integrity of football as the 2030 World Cup approaches. Berset emphasized the need for FIFA to shield the game from undue political and financial influences.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Berset expressed concerns over several issues arising from recent tournaments, including FIFA's controversial decision to reverse the red card given to American player Folarin Balogun. This decision reportedly followed intervention from US President Donald Trump, raising questions about external political pressures on the sport's governing body.

Berset also highlighted instances of racial abuse faced by players during the tournament, pointing out that some insults originated from elected officials. He underscored the importance of addressing such issues to maintain fairness and respect within the sport.

Further, Berset noted that the 2026 World Cup marked the first occasion where a company involved in the predictions market became an official partner of FIFA, with a visible presence inside stadiums. He raised concerns about how this association might affect the integrity of competitions and emphasized the need for FIFA to ensure that the sport remains untarnished by such influences.