FIFA’s Collina defends World Cup referee integrity as crypto sponsorship puts new spotlight on the beautiful game

Pierluigi Collina, the man whose piercing stare once terrified strikers across Europe, is now using it to stare down critics of World Cup officiating. FIFA’s chief refereeing officer declared on July 9 that match officials are “not influenced by anyone” and that “nobody can question the integrity” of their decision-making during the 2026 tournament.

FIFA is simultaneously navigating a firestorm over controversial calls and celebrating its first-ever crypto exchange sponsorship, a deal with Kraken that was announced on June 9.

The integrity question

Collina’s defense comes after a string of officiating controversies that have dominated the tournament’s narrative. Argentina’s 3-2 round-of-16 victory over Egypt drew particular scrutiny, with fans and pundits questioning multiple calls throughout the match.

The noise reached an unusual crescendo when US President Donald Trump weighed in publicly on referee Raphael Claus.

The expansion to 48 teams means 104 matches requiring coverage from 170 officials, including 52 referees. More games means more opportunities for controversial moments, and more controversial moments means more social media kindling.

Collina was emphatic that no external pressure, including from FIFA President Gianni Infantino himself, could sway officials’ calls.

Kraken enters the pitch

Kraken became the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the first time a cryptocurrency exchange has held such a position at the tournament.

FIFA hasn’t stopped at the sponsorship deal. The governing body has been experimenting with Right-to-Ticket tokens, a blockchain-based approach to ticketing and fan engagement. Think of RTT tokens as digital proof of your ticket ownership that lives on-chain, potentially reducing fraud while creating new ways for fans to interact with the event.

Where sports integrity meets crypto legitimacy

Meanwhile, an unofficial meme token called FWC26 has emerged around the tournament, trading on the World Cup’s cultural momentum without any FIFA endorsement. Investors should note the distinction between FIFA’s official blockchain initiatives and opportunistic tokens riding the tournament’s coattails.

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