Cricket's strangest defeat? Broken printer turns routine rain delay into an immediate match concessionA broken printer turned a rain delay into a bizarre defeat as Ballyspallen were forced to concede after failing to produce the mandatory DLS sheet. Updated on: Aug 31, 2026
After unity pitch in US, RSS chief praises India's asylum policy in Canada: 'Came as aggressors, but still thrive'The RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said if someone was persecuted anywhere in the world, the person was given asylum by India. Published on: Aug 31, 2026
Warning labels on food packets and a regulatory pivotThe significance of the proposal lies not merely in shape or colour of a new label, but in shift in regulatory approach that has followed the SC’s intervention Updated on: Aug 31, 2026, 07:31:10 IST By Utkarsh Anand Prefer HTon Google Share via
All eyes are on the much-awaited new iPhone 18 Pro Max as September is almost here. Apple officially announced its “Surprise and Shine” event on September 9. On this day, new iPhones are expected to launch, with several reports about them and the event
Why is SpaceX stock going up? AI growth, spending and Starship explainedSpaceX stock is rising again after a sharp fall. Here’s why investors are watching its AI growth, huge spending, valuation and Starship rocket plans. Updated on: Aug 31, 2026
‘Going home no longer costs ₹10,000’: Woman reveals perks of moving from Bengaluru to GurgaonA woman said shifting from Bengaluru to Gurgaon had made trips home cheaper, easier and more convenient. Published on: Aug 31, 2026, 07:52:23 IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Prefer HTon Google Share via
Did Trump fall again? Truth behind viral video amid fresh health concernsA viral clip of Donald Trump showed a “breaking news” banner claiming, “Trump falls again! White House doctor breaks silence.” Here's the truth. Published on: Aug 31, 2026
2 suspects in Haryanvi singer Ankit Baliyan's murder killed in UP Police encounterHaryanvi singer and actor Ankit Baliyan was fatally shot in Shamli district on Wednesday evening as he stepped out of a gym. Updated on: Aug 31, 2026, 07:19:27 IST By HT News Desk Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy
The World Cup has always been beset by scandal and strife
The World Cup has always been beset by scandal and strife
The World Cup has always been beset by scandal and strife
So has FIFA, the outfit that administers it
Published on: Jun 11, 2026 1:55 PM IST The Economist Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link DID THE young Swede who refereed both the semi-final and final of the World Cup in Italy in 1934 really meet Benito Mussolini, Italy’s dictator, for dinner the night before the first of those matches? And did he agree to favour the home team, paving the way for Italy’s triumph in the tournament? To this day misgivings persist, although there is no clear evidence. Refereeing is far from the only cause of allegations of cheating. (Unsplash) From its birth, the World Cup has been beset by troubles and scandal. The stadium for the first one, in Uruguay in 1930, was not ready on time. The only African team slated to participate in that tournament, Egypt, literally missed the boat. And Uruguay, the eventual victor, was so incensed by the poor turnout from Europe that it boycotted Mussolini’s World Cup four years later—the only time a defending champion has failed to show up. Hostile hosts As with Italy in 1934, the host country is often suspected of skulduggery. When the tournament was held in England in 1966 much of Latin America believed it was engineered in favour of the hosts (who, as everyone in England knows, won) and other European countries. The Argentine captain was sent off in an ill-tempered game with England and an English referee dismissed two Uruguayans in their match against West Germany. In 2002, when the tournament was split between Japan and South Korea, it was the Europeans’ turn to feel victimised. South Korea knocked out first Italy, after the referee disallowed an Italian goal and sent off a star player, and then Spain, in another game scarred by refereeing controversies. “It seemed as if they just sat around a table and decided to throw us out,” griped Franco Frattini, an Italian government minister. Refereeing is far from the only cause of allegations of cheating. Mussolini pioneered another: the bolstering of national teams by abruptly granting nationality to talented foreign footballers. In the 1930s Italy imported a number of Latin Americans—five of its squad in 1934 had already won international caps with Argentina or Brazil. Provoked by an even more egregious example—Qatar naturalised three Brazilian footballers to boost its chances of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup—football’s governing body, FIFA, ruled in 2004 that, to change football allegiances, players must have a clear connection with their new country. A third form of cheating is to nobble your opponents. No instance of that has ever been proven. But England fans remain convinced that dirty tricks tarred the tournament in Mexico in 1970. Their captain, Bobby Moore, was arrested just before it in Colombia on charges of having stolen a bracelet, and their goalkeeper, Gordon Banks, was forced to miss the match in which they were knocked out by a stomach complaint he blamed on a dodgy bottle of beer. A recent article in the Observer, a British newspaper, explored suspicions that he had been poisoned by the CIA to help shore up a tottering dictatorship in Brazil with a popular footballing triumph. In 1998, when Brazil lost to France in Paris in the final, it was alleged that the sub-par performance of their star striker, Ronaldo, was also the result of poisoning. That such conspiracy theories thrive is testimony to how much people everywhere care about the World Cup. According to FIFA, 1.5bn people watched the final in 2022 on television. This generates spectacular flows of revenue from broadcasting rights, sponsorship, licensing deals, ticket sales and hospitality. FIFA, a not-for-profit organisation, is expecting $8.9bn in revenue this year. Much of the money goes to the 211 national football associations that are its members and their six regional groupings. There are no clear rules about how these riches should be distributed, however, giving FIFA’s members an incentive to keep quiet about mismanagement or corruption at the organisation. An investigation in 2015 by American and Swiss authorities revealed bribe-taking on a breathtaking scale: more than 40 FIFA officials were charged. FIFA’s president at the time, Sepp Blatter, from Switzerland, had to resign (though he was later cleared). His expected successor, Jeffrey Webb from the Cayman Islands, pleaded guilty to a number of charges. Instead, Mr Blatter was replaced by Gianni Infantino, also from Switzerland, who came in as the candidate of reform. Even before the scandal, FIFA suffered from the entrenched perception that it was a moneymaking racket run for the benefit of its officers and their cronies—why else, people ask, hold the World Cup in somewhere as unsuitable, for climatic and cultural reasons, as Qatar, the host for the finals in 2022? President’s pet Mr Infantino’s reforms have done little to dispel that reputation. Like his long-serving predecessors, Mr Blatter and João Havelange, a Brazilian businessman, he has proved adept at hobnobbing with the powerful. He has received a medal, the Order of Friendship, from Vladimir Putin and invented one, the FIFA Peace Prize, to award to Donald Trump last year. The sycophancy of its leaders to those in power helps explain one of FIFA’s great assets: its uncanny ability to sail serenely through geopolitical turbulence for the good of the World Cup and the massive fortunes it generates. Germany’s annexation of Austria in 1938 left the 16-country tournament that year a team short, but FIFA did not let that derail things. Had Canada succumbed to Mr Trump’s blandishments to become the 51st state of America before this year’s competition, Mr Infantino would probably have been the picture of composure. Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 did not prevent it from hosting the tournament in 2018. And Iran and America are not the first countries engaged in military hostilities with each other to compete in the same World Cup. Britain’s war with Argentina over the Falklands in 1982 did not end until a day after Argentina’s loss to Belgium in the opening match of the tournament that year in Spain, which also featured England. By expanding the tournament from 32 to 48 teams, FIFA has dramatically increased not only the number of tickets to be sold and matches to be televised, but also the scope for conflict, grievance and scandal. “I hope we can use this World Cup to really unite the world,” says Mr Infantino gamely. That a good portion of the world’s football fans will be united in their fury at how the World Cup unfolds seems a safer bet. Italy World Cup Italy Fifa Stay updated with the latest sports news, including latest headlines and updates from the Durand Cup Final Live. Catch all the action from tennis Grand Slam tournaments, follow your favourite football teams and players with the latest match results, and get the latest on international hockey tournaments and series. Home/Sports/Football/The World Cup Has Always Been Beset By Scandal And Strife See LessDID THE young Swede who refereed both the semi-final and final of the World Cup in Italy in 1934 really meet Benito Mussolini, Italy’s dictator, for dinner the night before the first of those matches? And did he agree to favour the home team, paving the way for Italy’s triumph in the tournament? To this day misgivings persist, although there is no clear evidence.
From its birth, the World Cup has been beset by troubles and scandal. The stadium for the first one, in Uruguay in 1930, was not ready on time. The only African team slated to participate in that tournament, Egypt, literally missed the boat. And Uruguay, the eventual victor, was so incensed by the poor turnout from Europe that it boycotted Mussolini’s World Cup four years later—the only time a defending champion has failed to show up.
Hostile hosts
As with Italy in 1934, the host country is often suspected of skulduggery. When the tournament was held in England in 1966 much of Latin America believed it was engineered in favour of the hosts (who, as everyone in England knows, won) and other European countries. The Argentine captain was sent off in an ill-tempered game with England and an English referee dismissed two Uruguayans in their match against West Germany. In 2002, when the tournament was split between Japan and South Korea, it was the Europeans’ turn to feel victimised. South Korea knocked out first Italy, after the referee disallowed an Italian goal and sent off a star player, and then Spain, in another game scarred by refereeing controversies. “It seemed as if they just sat around a table and decided to throw us out,” griped Franco Frattini, an Italian government minister.
Refereeing is far from the only cause of allegations of cheating. Mussolini pioneered another: the bolstering of national teams by abruptly granting nationality to talented foreign footballers. In the 1930s Italy imported a number of Latin Americans—five of its squad in 1934 had already won international caps with Argentina or Brazil. Provoked by an even more egregious example—Qatar naturalised three Brazilian footballers to boost its chances of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup—football’s governing body, FIFA, ruled in 2004 that, to change football allegiances, players must have a clear connection with their new country.
A third form of cheating is to nobble your opponents. No instance of that has ever been proven. But England fans remain convinced that dirty tricks tarred the tournament in Mexico in 1970. Their captain, Bobby Moore, was arrested just before it in Colombia on charges of having stolen a bracelet, and their goalkeeper, Gordon Banks, was forced to miss the match in which they were knocked out by a stomach complaint he blamed on a dodgy bottle of beer. A recent article in the Observer, a British newspaper, explored suspicions that he had been poisoned by the CIA to help shore up a tottering dictatorship in Brazil with a popular footballing triumph. In 1998, when Brazil lost to France in Paris in the final, it was alleged that the sub-par performance of their star striker, Ronaldo, was also the result of poisoning.
That such conspiracy theories thrive is testimony to how much people everywhere care about the World Cup. According to FIFA, 1.5bn people watched the final in 2022 on television. This generates spectacular flows of revenue from broadcasting rights, sponsorship, licensing deals, ticket sales and hospitality. FIFA, a not-for-profit organisation, is expecting $8.9bn in revenue this year. Much of the money goes to the 211 national football associations that are its members and their six regional groupings.
There are no clear rules about how these riches should be distributed, however, giving FIFA’s members an incentive to keep quiet about mismanagement or corruption at the organisation. An investigation in 2015 by American and Swiss authorities revealed bribe-taking on a breathtaking scale: more than 40 FIFA officials were charged. FIFA’s president at the time, Sepp Blatter, from Switzerland, had to resign (though he was later cleared). His expected successor, Jeffrey Webb from the Cayman Islands, pleaded guilty to a number of charges. Instead, Mr Blatter was replaced by Gianni Infantino, also from Switzerland, who came in as the candidate of reform. Even before the scandal, FIFA suffered from the entrenched perception that it was a moneymaking racket run for the benefit of its officers and their cronies—why else, people ask, hold the World Cup in somewhere as unsuitable, for climatic and cultural reasons, as Qatar, the host for the finals in 2022?
President’s pet
Mr Infantino’s reforms have done little to dispel that reputation. Like his long-serving predecessors, Mr Blatter and João Havelange, a Brazilian businessman, he has proved adept at hobnobbing with the powerful. He has received a medal, the Order of Friendship, from Vladimir Putin and invented one, the FIFA Peace Prize, to award to Donald Trump last year.
The sycophancy of its leaders to those in power helps explain one of FIFA’s great assets: its uncanny ability to sail serenely through geopolitical turbulence for the good of the World Cup and the massive fortunes it generates. Germany’s annexation of Austria in 1938 left the 16-country tournament that year a team short, but FIFA did not let that derail things. Had Canada succumbed to Mr Trump’s blandishments to become the 51st state of America before this year’s competition, Mr Infantino would probably have been the picture of composure.
Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 did not prevent it from hosting the tournament in 2018. And Iran and America are not the first countries engaged in military hostilities with each other to compete in the same World Cup. Britain’s war with Argentina over the Falklands in 1982 did not end until a day after Argentina’s loss to Belgium in the opening match of the tournament that year in Spain, which also featured England.
By expanding the tournament from 32 to 48 teams, FIFA has dramatically increased not only the number of tickets to be sold and matches to be televised, but also the scope for conflict, grievance and scandal. “I hope we can use this World Cup to really unite the world,” says Mr Infantino gamely. That a good portion of the world’s football fans will be united in their fury at how the World Cup unfolds seems a safer bet.
Source: HindustanTimes
Related Posts: Naga-Kuki strife began with a drunken brawl INDIA bloc faces internal strife ahead of key meeting today The sunscreen scandal shocking Australia - the world's skin cancer capital The sunscreen scandal shocking Australia - the world's skin cancer hotspot Namo Bharat Train Scandal Zelensky faces biggest corruption scandal of his presidency as ex-business partner accused of $100 mn graft Dianna Russini's future plans revealed amid Mike Vrabel scandal Israeli military's ex-top lawyer arrested as scandal over video leak deepens Ex-NBA Referee Warns Of Deeper Turmoil Amidst Latest Gambling Scandal Thousands protest in Philippines over massive corruption scandal
FedEx Cup payout: How much did Scottie Scheffler win, and what is caddie Ted Scott's share?Scottie Scheffler’s FedEx Cup win brought a huge payday, with Ted Scott also in line for a share. Updated on: Aug 31, 2026, 03:53:26 IST By Sehjal Gupta Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Scottie
2 hours ago
Donald Trump criticizes Canada as a major trade abuser of the United States. He claims his tariffs revived the American automobile industry and saved jobs. Trump urges Canadian companies to relocate operations to the US to avoid tariffs. He states that Canada has been exploiting America for decades
2 hours ago
Microfinance was once celebrated as Asia’s tool to lift people out of poverty. From Bangladesh to India, Cambodia and the Philippines, the promise was simple: provide small loans to low-income households, help them start businesses, increase income and escape poverty
2 hours ago
The Trump administration has tightened the rules governing internships for international students in the US. It has released a new federal memo warning universities about the use of Curricular Practical Training (CPT), adding another layer of uncertainty for students who seek work experience during
2 hours ago
According to Nepal’s Department of Tourism, which comes under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, 753 tourists could not be contacted until 5:30 pm local time on Saturday. Of them, 589 were foreign nationals.Kathmandu/New Delhi: Nepal is facing a major humanitarian crisis after
2 hours ago
NASA's new Roman Space Telescope has launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. This advanced observatory will seek planets and study dark energy in space. It will cast a wide gaze on the universe, uncovering hidden cosmic secrets. The telescope's massive field of view will find thousands of
2 hours ago
Real Madrid make it three from three under Mourinho as Bellingham, Mbappe inspire 4-0 Malaga routReal Madrid maintained their perfect La Liga start under Mourinho with a 4-0 win against Malaga. Updated on: Aug 31, 2026, 06:44:09 IST AFP Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Jude Bellingham and
2 hours ago
Toxic worldwide box office collection day 5: Yash film nears ₹300 crore, fails to beat Ram Charan's PeddiToxic worldwide box office collection day 5: Yash’s Toxic is continuing its theatrical run, but the Geetu Mohandas film is seeing a noticeable drop. Published on: Aug 31, 2026
2 hours ago
![New Delhi [India], August 30 (ANI): Organizations are increasingly using agentic coding tools to build software in-house in lieu of purchasing it](http://newsorbit360.com/files/news/en/imgs/nearly-32-of-organizations-decide-to-build-in-house-software-using-ai.png?height=520)
New Delhi [India], August 30 (ANI): Organizations are increasingly using agentic coding tools to build software in-house in lieu of purchasing it, according to a McKinsey report titled "The state of AI in 2026". Nearly a third of respondents (32 per cent) report that their organisations have
2 hours ago
Species primarily found in Africa and the Amazon have been listed in a recent environment impact assessment study claiming that they live on Great Nicobar Island. The report released in April was prepared by WAPCOS Limited, a Gurgaon-based public sector undertaking as part of a proposal to repair
2 hours ago
Do your parents have a favourite child and give them more money, gifts or help? Financial favouritism can cause jealousy and resentment long into adulthood and, in some cases, even spark legal disputes after a parent dies. But experts say there are strategies that can help you avoid it
2 hours ago
A headteacher has told how he saved 900 pupils' lives from the Nepal floods - by quickly evacuating them just 10 minutes before the waters hit. Rajendra Dawadi, who is in charge of Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School in Nuwakot, told the BBC he had received four calls at 09:10 local time (03:25
2 hours ago
As India’s board exam season intensifies each year, a quieter shift is unfolding alongside. Increasingly, students are turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) as their first point of reference, often before they speak with parents, teachers, or school counsellors
1 days ago
Tamannaah Bhatia’s anarkali, Namrata Shirodkar's jacket look, Manish Malhotra in black: Who wore what at Hyderabad event Updated on: Aug 30, 2026, 13:22:55 IST By Akanksha Agnihotri Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Tamannaah Bhatia, Manish Malhotra
1 days ago
HDFC CEO Sashidhar Jagdishan to not seek reappointment, set to step down in OctoberThe bank has now fast-tracked the process to find its successor. With this, HDFC Bank becomes the latest private-sector lender to witness a leadership change. Updated on: Aug 30, 2026, 12:55:38 IST By Shayan Ghosh
1 days ago
North Korea's Defence Minister has been dismissed as part of a reshuffle of the country's military leadership, state media reported on Sunday (August 30, 2026). The "structural reorganization plans" were decided during a meeting on Saturday (August 29) led by Kim Jong Un
1 days ago
Woman shares reality of never-ending expenses after moving into a flat: ‘They just keep piling up’A woman shared how unexpected household expenses kept piling up after she moved into a rented flat. Published on: Aug 30, 2026, 12:46:57 IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Prefer HTon Google Share via
1 days ago
Checks and Balance newsletter: Silicon Valley’s simulation idea is old and dullJohn Prideaux, our executive editor, on Silicon Valley solipsism Published on: Aug 30, 2026, 13:00:56 IST The Economist Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Many small humiliations accompany living in the era of
1 days ago
Tom Cruise, Abhishek Bachchan, Tara Sutaria, Tom Holland: 9 celebs who opened up about their learning disabilities Published on: Aug 30, 2026, 13:05:55 IST By Sanya Panwar Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Tom Cruise and Tara Sutaria, as well as celebs such as Tom Holland
1 days ago
‘I worked over the weekends’: Employee seeks advice after HR questions them for being 15 minutes lateAn employee has turned to Reddit for advice after being questioned by HR over 15-minute delays at work. Updated on: Aug 30, 2026, 13:29:43 IST By Vaishali Kapila Prefer HTon Google Share via
1 days ago
Ather Energy has launched its new electric scooter, the ‘Konarc S’, in the Indian market. This new electric scooter has a starting price of Rs 1 lakh (ex-showroom) and is based on Ather’s EL platform. It is the company’s first scooter to be built on this platform
1 days ago
August 30, 2026, Birthday Horoscope: Trust your instincts, make bold decisions and believe in what is possibleYour birthday falls on August 30, 2026 here’s what your year ahead looks like, as per Tarot. Updated on: Aug 30, 2026, 11:00:15 IST By Kishori Sud Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link
1 days ago
Mohammad Amir refers to himself as ‘British Local’: ‘The Pakistan chapter I had before is now closed’Mohammad Amir has ruled out a return to Pakistan cricket after acquiring British citizenship. Updated on: Aug 30, 2026, 14:08:04 IST Written by Probuddha Bhattacharjee Prefer HTon Google
1 days ago
Even as AI firms expand model capabilities, frontier labs continue to navigate a legal reckoning sparked by the first wave of copyright lawsuits that threatened to derail the generative AI boom. The argument from artists has been that AI output that looks like a specific piece of art is because
1 days ago
On the morning of August 29, more than 5,000 people of Indian-origin trickled into New York’s Madison Square Garden to see one man take the stage: Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological parent of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party
1 days ago
Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi said he was "not angry" and there was "no panic" after his side's second loss in two games left them bottom of the Premier League – but it was a depressingly familiar story for the club's fans. Goals from Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa in a 10-minute second-half
1 days ago
NEET PG exam rescheduled for nearly 300 candidates over power outage in JaipurThe NEET PG examination for all candidates allotted to the particular centre will now be conducted on September 5. Updated on: Aug 30, 2026, 14:06:58 IST ANI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link The NEET-PG examination
1 days ago
![New Delhi [India], August 20 (ANI): India's key strength in artificial intelligence lies in the applications layer, while the country is simultaneously](http://newsorbit360.com/files/news/en/imgs/indias-ai-strength-lies-in-applications.jpg?width=120&height=70)
