By Rohith Nair
MIAMI, June 23 (Reuters) – 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 in which Miguel Almiron was sent off.
Jorge Chipi Vera lost his composure on live television when Paraguay’s Almiron became the first player sent off at the tournament for violating a new rule that forbids players from covering their mouths during on-field confrontations.
Almiron was dismissed for remarks made to Turkey’s Mert Muldur with his hand covering his mouth in first-half stoppage time.
The furious broadcaster called 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 his 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.”
Vera said the sanction meant he can no longer participate in his media outlet’s World Cup coverage “either inside the stadiums or outside them” and it covers “any type of participation or coverage related to the World Cup”.
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.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
The source suggested that, while FIFA had no problem with freedom of speech against the laws of the game, Vera’s repeated use of a highly offensive Spanish phrase directed at FIFA officials was viewed as particularly shocking.
FIFA banning journalists from tournaments is extremely rare.
Under former President Sepp Blatter, freelance investigative reporter Andrew Jennings was barred from all FIFA events following his allegations of corruption in soccer’s global governing body, many of which were subsequently vindicated in the U.S. courts.
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.”
(Reporting by Rohith Nair and Fernando Kallas; Editing by Alison Williams, Toby Davis and Ed Osmond)
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