Commentator loses World Cup credentials after calling Infantino and referee ‘thieves’
A football commentator has been stripped of his World Cup credentials by Fifa after an expletive-laden tirade against the organisation and match officials during Paraguay’s 1-0 victory over Turkey when Miguel Almirón was sent off.
Jorge Chipi Vera lost his composure on live television when Paraguay’s Almirón became the first player sent off at the tournament for violating a strict new rule that forbids covering mouths during on-field confrontations. Almirón was dismissed by the Salvadorian referee Iván Barton for remarks made to Turkey’s Mert Muldur with his hand covering his mouth in first-half stoppage time.
The furious broadcaster called the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, and the referee “thieves”, accusing them of “killing football” as Paraguay were reduced to 10 men, but he later apologised and said on X late on Monday that his accreditation had been cancelled.
“During the broadcast of the match between Paraguay and Turkey, I had an outburst,” Vera said in the lengthy apology. “In the midst of my frustration over the expulsion of a player from my country, and feeling that my national team was being harmed, I used offensive and unacceptable expressions against the referee, Fifa, and its authorities.”
Fifa declined to comment but a source familiar with the matter said the governing body considered Vera’s language unacceptable and his actions inconsistent with the standards of professionalism expected of accredited broadcast personnel.
The source suggested that, while Fifa had no problem with freedom of speech against the laws of the game, Vera’s repeated use of an offensive Spanish phrase directed at Fifa officials was viewed as particularly shocking.
Vera said the sanction meant he can no longer participate in World Cup coverage “either inside the stadiums or outside them” and it covers “any type of participation or coverage related to the World Cup”.
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Vera, who works for ABC Cardinal and ABC TV, also apologised to sponsors that support the platforms’ coverage and said he had sent a letter of apology to Fifa, taking full responsibility for his actions. “Questioning a rule or disagreeing with a refereeing decision never justifies losing control the way I did,” he added. “I failed you in something fundamental: maintaining the composure and respect that this profession requires.”
