A football broadcaster has had his World Cup media accreditation revoked by FIFA after erupting on live television with a profanity-filled outburst aimed at the tournament body and match officials during Paraguay’s 1-0 win over Turkey, a game in which Miguel Almiron was sent off.
The incident centered on Jorge “Chipi” Vera, who lost control after Almiron became the first player dismissed at the competition for breaching a new disciplinary instruction. The directive is designed to prevent players from covering their mouths during on-field confrontations.
Quick facts
- FIFA removed a football commentator’s World Cup credentials after an expletive-laden rant.
- The outburst came during Paraguay’s 1-0 victory over Turkey.
- Miguel Almiron was dismissed in the match, becoming the first red-carded player at the tournament.
- Almiron’s sending off followed his hand covering his mouth when speaking to Turkey’s Mert Muldur in first-half stoppage time.
- Jorge “Chipi” Vera later apologised and said his accreditation was cancelled.
Almiron was shown the red card for comments made to Mert Muldur, with the Paraguay forward’s hand covering his mouth during first-half stoppage time. Vera reacted furiously in the stadium broadcast, directing his anger at both the referee and FIFA leadership.
In the heat of the moment, the broadcaster called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and the match official “thieves,” while claiming they were “killing football.” Paraguay’s match then proceeded with the visitors reduced to 10 men, which only heightened Vera’s frustration.
Vera later issued an apology and said on X late on Monday that his accreditation had been taken away. In his statement, he said the incident happened during the live coverage of the Paraguay vs Turkey match and that his reaction was driven by anger at the dismissal of one of his country’s players.
The apology and consequences
“During the broadcast of the match between Paraguay and Turkey, I had an outburst,” Vera wrote in a longer message. He added that, amid his frustration over a player being expelled and the sense that his national team was being harmed, he used language he described as offensive and unacceptable toward the referee, FIFA, and its officials.
He also confirmed that the punishment prevents him from taking part in his media organisation’s World Cup coverage “either inside the stadiums or outside them.” He stressed that it applies to “any type of participation or coverage related to the World Cup.”
FIFA did not provide a public response, but a person familiar with the situation said the organisation viewed Vera’s remarks as unacceptable and his conduct as falling short of the professionalism expected from accredited broadcast staff.
Vera, who works for ABC Cardinal and ABC TV, also apologised to sponsors backing the platforms’ coverage. He said he had sent a formal letter of regret to FIFA and accepted full responsibility for his actions.
“Questioning a rule or disagreeing with a refereeing decision never justifies losing control the way I did,” he added. He concluded by saying he had failed in “something fundamental,” namely keeping the composure and respect that the profession demands.
