Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset called on FIFA to establish an integrity framework for the 2030 World Cup, warning that 'the next crisis has already begun.' In a statement published on the day of Sunday's final, Berset identified player-action betting markets and FIFA's partnership with prediction platform ADI Predictstreet as key fraud risks. The intervention proposes talks between FIFA and the Council of Europe to build safeguards before the next World Cup, building on their existing cooperation agreement established in 2018.
Berset Proposes FIFA-Council of Europe Integrity Talks
Berset proposed a 'third half' in the form of talks between FIFA and the Council of Europe aimed at building an integrity framework before the next World Cup. In his statement, Berset declared that the sport's emerging crisis had 'two names: money and power.' The intervention is a proposal from the organization's secretary general, not a resolution adopted by its 46 member states or a binding instruction to FIFA.
Player-Action Betting Markets Identified as Primary Fraud Risk
Markets determined by individual player actions rather than match results are the source of primary concern. Berset said bets on cards, corners, passes or other incidents that one participant can influence without changing the final score create an 'open door to fraud.' The Council of Europe issued a statement on July 13 describing so-called negative bets as particularly vulnerable to manipulation, stating that one player or one action may determine such a market without affecting the match result.
FIFA Partnered with ADI Predictstreet in April
FIFA named blockchain-backed ADI Predictstreet its first official prediction-market partner in April under a multi-year agreement. The platform used FIFA data to offer markets involving match results, tournament statistics, standout players and key moments, while also presenting FIFA's free-to-play bracket challenge. ADI Predictstreet subsequently opened its real-money platform in Gibraltar and reached US traders through Fanatics Markets, while DAZN added a separate free-to-play experience to its World Cup coverage.
FIFA said when announcing the partnership that ADI Predictstreet would operate under a 'comprehensive integrity monitoring framework.' The governing body said safeguards would include real-time monitoring of suspicious trading and structured systems for sharing and reporting information. Berset's statement did not allege that manipulation occurred on ADI Predictstreet or identify a suspicious World Cup trade. Instead, it questioned whether monitoring arrangements are sufficient when markets allow traders to take positions on events that individual players can deliberately produce.
European Regulators Issued Nine-Nation Warning Before Tournament
European gambling regulators had cautioned sports organizations against commercial relationships with prediction platforms. A coordinated nine-regulator warning issued before the tournament cited unauthorized gambling, weak age controls, money laundering and sports-integrity risks.
FIFA and Council of Europe Maintain Cooperation Agreement Since 2018
FIFA and the Council of Europe have had a formal cooperation agreement since 2018. Their memorandum covers integrity, good governance, major sporting events and operational coordination, and specifically committed the organizations to strengthening the fight against match-fixing. Berset cited that history of international cooperation as the model for his proposed 2030 framework. The Council of Europe previously developed binding conventions on stadium safety, doping and competition manipulation, but his latest proposal has not yet produced an agreed process, timetable or new rules for FIFA and its prediction-market partners.
FAQ
What did Alain Berset propose to FIFA?
Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset proposed talks between FIFA and the Council of Europe to build an integrity framework for the 2030 World Cup. The proposal was outlined in a statement published on the day of Sunday's final.
Why does Berset consider player-action betting a fraud risk?
Berset stated that bets on cards, corners, passes or other incidents that one participant can influence without changing the final score create an 'open door to fraud.' These markets allow individual players to determine outcomes without affecting match results.
When did FIFA partner with ADI Predictstreet?
FIFA named ADI Predictstreet its first official prediction-market partner in April under a multi-year agreement. The partnership included a comprehensive integrity monitoring framework with real-time monitoring of suspicious trading.
