Council of Europe secretary general Alain Berset has written an open letter to FIFA president Gianni Infantino calling for urgent action on football integrity.
Berset warned that football is entering a new era of governance challenges driven by the growing influence of money, power, and emerging technologies.
The letter highlighted several specific risks that require a coordinated international response from football’s governing bodies and regulators alike.
Among the threats Berset identified were prediction markets, the rapid expansion of sports betting, and the increasing use of artificial intelligence across the sport.
“The next crisis has already begun,” Berset wrote. “It is no longer just about corruption on the field, but about the growing influence of money and power around it.”
Berset also flagged the nature of modern betting markets as a particular concern, warning they create new vulnerabilities that traditional integrity frameworks were never designed to address.
“Betting has moved from the result of a match to moments a single player can produce without changing the score. A bet won by making others lose. It is an open door to fraud,” he wrote.
The letter was published following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which ended on 19 July when Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time in New York.
Berset pointed to FIFA’s partnership with prediction market exchange ADI Predictstreet during the tournament as a notable integrity concern that warranted closer scrutiny.
He also raised the intervention of US President Donald Trump, who helped overturn a red card issued to Folarin Balogun during a match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, allowing the player to feature against Belgium.
“Political influence has also moved onto the field,” Berset said. “The sanction suspended mid-tournament came after a head of state called the president of FIFA. When the rules bend under pressure, every result is open to doubt.”
Berset proposed what he described as a “third half,” calling for an immediate working dialogue between the Council of Europe and FIFA to establish a stronger integrity framework before the 2030 World Cup.
The proposal reflects a broader concern among regulators that football’s governance structures have not kept pace with the speed at which commercial and technological pressures are evolving.
With sports betting expanding rapidly across new markets and prediction trading platforms entering the space as official partners, the 2030 tournament presents a critical window for reform.
Berset’s call to action signals that European regulators are watching FIFA’s next moves closely and expect concrete steps before the next major tournament begins.
