Cristiano Ronaldo has seemingly aligned himself with claims that FIFA is one of the most corrupt institutions globally. The football legend recently 'liked' an Instagram post where a journalist described FIFA as an 'abject, mafia-like, and shameful organization.'
This action occurred amidst intense scrutiny of FIFA's conduct and decision-making throughout the recent World Cup and in the lead-up to it. Speculation was rife that FIFA president Gianni Infantino had manipulated the tournament in favor of Argentina, following a series of perceived favorable calls for the team on their path to the final.
Spanish journalists Pilar Rodrigues Losantos and Ruben Amon discussed these allegations on the program Espejo Publico prior to the World Cup final. Ronaldo, whose team Portugal was eliminated in the round of 16 by Spain, liked a post featuring this discussion. While a 'like' does not definitively confirm agreement, it has drawn attention.
Rodrigues Losantos stated that Argentina should have been eliminated much earlier in the tournament, attributing their progression to FIFA's alleged assistance. She expressed concern about Infantino, suggesting that the competition was not just against Argentina but also against the entire FIFA institution, which she claimed intended for Lionel Messi to win, as in a previous World Cup. Amon criticized rising ticket prices for making football an elite experience and described FIFA as an 'abject, mafia-like, and shameful organisation.'
Allegations of refereeing favoritism towards Argentina were noted by several teams. Spain questioned a disallowed goal for Nico Williams in the final. Earlier, Egypt expressed strong objections after several decisions went against them in their last-16 match, with manager Hossam Hassan accusing FIFA of unfairness and potential rigging to favor Messi. Switzerland, eliminated in the quarterfinals, also accused referees of being one-sided, particularly regarding a red card incident involving Breel Embolo.
Lionel Messi himself faced scrutiny for an apparent stamp during Argentina's first group match against Algeria, an incident that was not reviewed by VAR. Additionally, Argentina's players displayed a banner referencing the Falkland Islands after their semi-final match, an act that contravenes FIFA's rules against political slogans. Despite this, they have not faced disciplinary action.
FIFA has consistently denied accusations of rigging the World Cup. In a separate matter that has also impacted confidence in FIFA's governance, the organization suspended a ban for U.S. forward Folarin Balogun to allow him to play against Belgium, following a phone call from Donald Trump. FIFA's decision-making processes have long faced public distrust.