THE row kicked up by the International Football Federation (FIFA) with its rather unhinged drive towards commercialisation is rather unfortunate. Football bodies across Europe, Asia, North America, Central America and the Caribbean have already threatened to boycott the next ‘privatised’ World Cup. FIFA under Gianni Infantino is not something good for the game, it seems. This was seen during the recent World Cup as well. The controversies it triggered continue to taint international football. As things stand, the ‘Beautiful Game’ has lost its sheen and shine around the globe. For starters, it was a folly on the part of FIFA to award the hosting rights to the United States without ensuring that players and fans from around the world could actually have access to the land.

The massive issues faced by the Iranian national team, the refusal of visa to the Somali referee and the head of the Palestinian Football Association (PFA), and the lengthy interrogation lasting hours faced by an Iraqi striker were just a few incidents that highlighted American high-handedness. Under Infantino, FIFA clearly put money before sport, and allowed politics to take over the game.

FIFA’s double standards are hard to ignore. It had banned Russia and Belarus after the Russian intervention in Ukraine. In 2023, it also stripped Indonesia of hosting an event after the country opposed the participation of Israel following the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Yet, when the PFA petitioned FIFA to ban the genocidal regime from hosting matches in the West Bank, which Palestinians and much of the international community consider occupied territory, FIFA refused. Instead, Infantino made up his own law and called the West Bank a “historically disputed land”. That is surely not how international law defines it.

During the recent World Cup, accusations of bias continued on the pitch. Egyptian fans and coaching staff argued that refereeing decisions had robbed the team of a fair run. Similar sentiments were echoed by Senegal, Switzerland, Cape Verde and others; mostly against Argentina.

For fans who travelled thousands of miles to watch the World Cup, it felt like a ‘rigged show’. Back in 2012 when Indonesia’s coach had spoken out about bribed referees within the game, FIFA had responded by banning and fining the team instead of investigating. This time, FIFA has simply decided to ignore everything. All this — plus, of course, the infamous call made by United States President Donald Trump — has left FIFA denuded.

Angabeen Ahmad
Karachi

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2026