Lahore (Sports Desk): UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin did not attend the FIFA World Cup 2026 final due to growing disagreements with FIFA.
According to a news agency report, sources familiar with the matter said that several disputes emerged between the two global football organizations during the tournament over disciplinary decisions, referee arrangements, and the organization of matches.
According to sources, the biggest controversy arose when FIFA decided to delay the automatic one-match suspension following the red card received by US forward Folarin Balogun. UEFA strongly reacted to the decision, stating that FIFA had exceeded the limits of its authority.
Another reason behind Čeferin’s absence from the final is believed to be the case of Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was unable to officiate at the World Cup after being denied entry into the United States. He was later appointed as the referee for the UEFA Super Cup scheduled in August.
According to the report, European football officials also expressed concerns over FIFA’s new decisions, including administrative matters related to matches involving Iran, mandatory water breaks, and the extension of halftime duration in the final.
It should be noted that in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win the title of world champions.