By Meshach Chukwuma
The allegations against FIFA in regards to ensuring that Lionel Messi wins the 2022 World Cup at all costs are numerous and varied. Some of the most prominent allegations include:
Bribing referees and officials: It has been alleged that FIFA has bribed referees and officials to ensure that Argentina, and particularly Messi, are given favorable decisions during matches. There have been numerous instances of questionable calls and penalties being given to Argentina during international tournaments, leading to suspicions of corruption within FIFA.
Manipulating the draw process: There have also been allegations that FIFA has manipulated the draw process for the World Cup to ensure that Argentina is placed in a favorable group and has an easier path to the final. This could involve manipulating the seeding process, or even outright fixing the draw to ensure that Argentina does not have to face certain teams.
Providing financial incentives for players: It has been suggested that FIFA has offered financial incentives to players on the Argentina national team to ensure that they perform to the best of their abilities and help lead the team to victory. This could include bonuses, sponsorship deals, or other perks that are not available to players on other teams.
Tampering with the ball: There have been rumors that FIFA has tampered with the ball used in the World Cup to give Argentina an advantage. This could involve altering the ball’s shape or size, or altering the way it moves through the air to give Messi and his teammates an advantage.
Pressuring other teams to throw matches: There have also been allegations that FIFA has pressured other teams to throw matches in favor of Argentina. This could involve threatening teams with disqualification or other penalties if they do not cooperate, or offering financial incentives to teams that are willing to throw matches in favor of Argentina.
Rigging the voting process for the award of the World Cup: There have also been allegations that FIFA has rigged the voting process for the award of the World Cup to ensure that it is held in a location that will benefit Argentina. This could involve bribing officials or manipulating the voting process to ensure that the World Cup is held in a location that is favorable to Argentina.
Despite these allegations, it is important to note that there is no concrete evidence to support these claims, and many of these allegations are simply rumors and speculation. However, the fact that these allegations continue to surface and are widely discussed within the soccer community suggests that there may be some truth to them, or at least that there is a perception of corruption within football’s governing body.
One of the main reasons why these allegations continue to persist is due to the significant influence that FIFA has within the world of soccer. As the governing body for international soccer, FIFA has the power to shape the rules and regulations of the game, as well as the way in which the World Cup is organized and run. This gives them a great deal of power and control, and there are those who believe that they are not always acting in the best interests of the game.
There are also concerns about the level of transparency within FIFA, and the lack of accountability for those in positions of power. This has led to a lack of trust among some soccer fans, who believe that FIFA is more concerned with its own interests than with the integrity of the game.
Despite these concerns, it is important to remember that FIFA is made up of human beings, and that mistakes and errors can be made. It is possible that some of the allegations against FIFA are unfounded, or that they have been exaggerated or distorted. However, it is also possible that there is some truth to these allegations, and that there are those within FIFA who are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that Messi and Argentina are successful at the World Cup.