The Council of Europe calls on FIFA for a "third half."

Alan Pearce, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, called on FIFA on Sunday to enter what he described as the "third half" by working to protect football from political and financial pressures ahead of the next World Cup.

Just hours before the final match between Argentina and Spain, Pearce stated that the 2026 World Cup raised "a whole series of questions," particularly pointing to FIFA's decision to suspend the red card shown to American player Folarin Balogun without providing an explanation, following an intervention from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Pearce said, "A penalty was suspended during the tournament after a head of state contacted the President of FIFA," expressing regret that "political influence has now extended even to the playing field."

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe believes that FIFA should start a "third half" by working "urgently to enhance the integrity of the sport," considering that this integrity is now threatened by "money and influence."

The aforementioned European official added in a statement received by AFP that the 2026 World Cup also witnessed "a penalty suspended under pressure" and "doubts about the authority of referees."

He also condemned "racist insults directed at players, some of which came from elected officials," and the widespread betting that includes "every pass, every card, every corner kick."

Pearce warned, saying: "Betting is no longer limited to the outcome of the match; it now also includes events that a player can perform without affecting the result. One can win a bet by causing others to lose, which opens the door to fraud."

He added that this edition of the World Cup "has widened this door even more," noting that "for the first time, FIFA includes among its official partners a company operating in the prediction markets sector, which is present even within the stadiums."

The Council of Europe consists of 46 member states and is considered the European reference body in the field of human rights.

Pearce called on the governing body of football worldwide to "start a constructive dialogue starting this evening, to prepare a framework for integrity to be applied in the 2030 World Cup."