I had the credit for the final, but FIFA took everything away from me: the complaint of journalist Filippo Maria Ricci, excluded from Spain-Argentina

Filippo Maria Ricci, a correspondent for La Gazzetta dello Sport based in Spain, has accused the International Football Federation (FIFA) of abruptly revoking his accreditation for the final match between Spain and Argentina, scheduled for this evening in New York. The journalist had covered all 11 games live during the World Cup, but will not be present in the press area for the concluding match. On Monday morning, Ricci posted on X stating, “It’s over. After 38 days, 11 matches followed live, and 165 articles for the Gazzetta, my World Cup ends abruptly and unexpectedly just before the final.” Ricci claimed he had received the ticket for the final, access to the mixed zone, and parking privileges earlier that day. However, these were revoked shortly afterward. He noted that the FIFA had stated the issue was related to the availability of seats, though he expressed skepticism. “The Gazzetta went from five approved credentials to two; Corriere della Sera maintained all five, while Repubblica kept all three,” he wrote. Ricci is unsure whether there are other reasons behind the reduction in their accreditation numbers, but he feels certain that his World Cup ended in the worst possible way with a sense of injustice. Colleagues have expressed solidarity with Ricci on social media following the incident. At La Gazzetta dello Sport, three of the five accreditments for the final were withdrawn, raising suspicions that FIFA may have retaliated against the newspaper for its recent criticisms of the tournament’s organization. A colleague, Davide Chinellato, wrote on X, “What a shame! A respected media outlet like La Gazzetta dello Sport, for which FIFA President Gianni Infantino once wrote an article at the beginning of this long World Cup, now finds itself stripped of three credentials for the final after criticizing what didn’t work. Has football become a tyranny?” The suspicion of retaliation is further fueled by Ricci’s recent articles, which included justified critiques of the World Cup’s organization and the numerous issues that have plagued the latter stages of the competition. Among his latest pieces were titles such as “From Vargentina to ArgenFifa: Infantino and the accusations of favoritism toward Messi and the Albiceleste,” “In the end, no fans together with journalists. But the press conferences of Spain and Argentina turn into shows,” and “The last of Infantino? Paid press conferences. And for $150, a selfie with Rio Ferdinand…” For now, the official explanation from FIFA attributes the withdrawal of the credentials to a lack of available seating. This reasoning has not convinced many colleagues, who believe that the harsh criticism published in recent weeks might have influenced the decision. Without further clarification from the international federation, the situation risks turning into another controversy ahead of the World Cup final. The case highlights ongoing tensions between media organizations and FIFA, particularly regarding access and editorial freedom. As the final approaches, the situation remains unresolved, leaving Ricci and his colleagues uncertain about the future of their coverage. The outcome of this dispute could set a precedent for how media outlets are treated in future major sporting events.