"F***ing thieves." Said live on air. More than 20 uses of "sons of b****es." That's what it took for FIFA to finally pull a broadcaster's credentials — and honestly, you can see why they moved fast.
Jorge Chipi Vera, a commentator for ABC Carnival and ABC TV in Paraguay, completely lost it during his country's 1-0 win over Turkey on Friday. The trigger: Miguel Almirón became the first player at this World Cup to receive a red card for talking while covering his mouth — an enforcement that, depending on your view, is either rigorous officiating or the most petty application of a rule in tournament history.
Vera didn't hold back. He called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and referee Ivan Baton "f***ing thieves" and accused them of "killing football." The "sons of b****es" count reportedly topped 20. This wasn't a slip — it was a sustained rant.
FIFA's response was swift and unambiguous
Sources inside FIFA described the reaction as "disgust," and a letter was sent to Vera revoking his accreditation. The governing body informed him that his conduct breached the media rights license held by ABC Deportes — meaning he's banned from attending any further matches at the tournament.
FIFA's position: his actions were "inconsistent with the standards of professionalism and respect expected of accredited broadcast personnel."
By Monday, Vera had issued a public apology, acknowledging he used "offensive and unacceptable expressions" in the heat of the moment. He framed it as frustration over the red card and a feeling that his national team was being wronged. That's understandable on a human level. It doesn't change what he said or how many times he said it.
The Almirón red card still hangs over the result
Here's the thing — the question Vera's meltdown actually raised hasn't gone away. Paraguay won the match, but the Almirón dismissal will fuel debate about how strictly FIFA is policing dissent at this tournament. Whether the rule is being applied consistently, and whether it's affecting team selection decisions, is worth watching as the competition progresses. Any team with a key player walking a disciplinary tightrope carries extra risk — and that matters when assessing match lines in the knockout rounds.
As for Vera, the apology is on the record. The credentials are gone. That's where it ends.
