Fifa accused of opening door to fraud with betting deal

Fifa has been accused of creating an “open door to fraud” through its partnership with a prediction market company, according to the Council of Europe’s secretary general. Alain Berset issued the warning in an open letter published on the day of the World Cup final. He said the deal allows betting on match outcomes through prediction markets, which are less regulated than traditional sports betting. Berset also criticized Fifa for allowing political influence to damage the integrity of the World Cup. He noted that a recent reprieve for player Balogun showed that “rules bend under pressure.” The Council of Europe chief called for a new integrity framework to be in place before the 2030 tournament, which will be largely hosted in Europe. He warned that Fifa is facing a crisis involving both money and power.