Ronaldo Fuels FIFA Controversy After Liking Post Calling Body ‘Corrupt’

Ronaldo Fuels FIFA Controversy After Liking Post Calling Body ‘Corrupt’

Cristiano Ronaldo has reignited debate over FIFA after appearing to endorse a journalist’s scathing criticism of football’s governing body.

The Portugal captain’s verified social media account was reportedly among those that liked a post featuring comments accusing FIFA of being “one of the most corrupt institutions on the planet.”

The remarks were made by Spanish journalists Pilar Rodrigues Losantos and Ruben Amon during a discussion on the television programme Espejo Público in the build-up to the World Cup final.

Losantos questioned Argentina’s progress in the tournament, claiming the team had survived several potential eliminations with the alleged assistance of FIFA. She also suggested that Argentina was less intimidating than FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

“I believe we won’t just be playing against Argentina, but against the entire FIFA institution, which wants to hand the World Cup to Messi, just as happened four years ago in Qatar,” she said.

Amon also criticised FIFA, describing the organisation as “mafia-like” and accusing it of turning football, once regarded as a sport for the masses, into an experience increasingly reserved for the wealthy.

Ronaldo and Portugal had already been eliminated by Spain in the last 16 and therefore did not feature in the final.

Spain eventually defeated Argentina 1–0 after extra time, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute.

Ronaldo’s reported interaction with the post, however, has since drawn renewed attention to the criticism surrounding FIFA’s leadership, governance and decision-making.