Jorge Chipi Vera called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and match referee Ivan Baton "f**king thieves" on live radio. He used the phrase "sons of b**ches" more than 20 times. He is now banned from the rest of the World Cup.
The Paraguayan broadcaster, who works for ABC Carnival and ABC TV, went off-script during Paraguay's 1-0 win over Turkey on Friday after Miguel Almirón became the first player at this tournament to be sent off for speaking while covering his mouth — an unusual and contentious ruling that clearly pushed Vera past his limit. The on-air meltdown was spectacular in its lack of restraint, but the consequences were swift and predictable.
FIFA didn't find it funny
Sources inside FIFA described Vera's comments as being treated with "disgust" throughout the governing body. The revocation came by letter, citing a breach of the media rights license granted to ABC Deportes. In plain terms: his employer's press credentials got him in the door, and his mouth got him thrown out.
The official FIFA line was that his conduct was "inconsistent with the standards of professionalism and respect expected of accredited broadcast personnel." Corporate language for: you can't call the president a thief on air and keep your press pass.
Vera apologized on Monday via social media, framing the outburst as frustration over what he saw as his national team being harmed by an unjust decision. "I used offensive and unacceptable expressions against the referee, FIFA, and its authorities," he wrote. It was a clean apology — no excuses, no backtracking. It just wasn't enough to save his seat.
The Almirón red card that triggered all of this remains the real talking point. Whether the sending-off was justified is a debate that will follow this tournament. What's not up for debate is that Vera's response, however understandable the frustration, handed FIFA an easy win — the story shifted from a questionable refereeing call to a broadcaster who lost control of his broadcast.
