The Council of Europe sends a critical letter to FIFA hours before the World Cup final, raising concerns about the tournament’s integrity. Across the reports, the rights body argues that political influence is extending into on-field decisions, according to a quoted line that says “Political influence has moved onto the field.” The Council of Europe’s intervention focuses on how non-sporting factors may be affecting the competition and the credibility of the matches leading up to the final. The letter is described as scathing and is framed as an official challenge to FIFA to address the concerns raised by the organization. The timing—shortly before the final—underscores that the questions are raised close to the end of the tournament rather than through a post-event review. Both outlets report the same core message from the Council of Europe: that political dynamics are reaching match play and could undermine confidence in the World Cup’s fairness. The accounts do not provide additional detail on specific incidents, penalties, or decisions referenced in the letter.