Venezuela misses a World Cup again. President Nicolás Maduro then unexciously demands consequences – and the association implemented them arbitrarily. The process raises questions and should put FIFA to the test.
According to the missed World Cup qualification of the Venezuelan national team, President Nicolás Maduro has personally called for consequences. The association reacted. National coach Fernando Batista had to go to the USA, Canada and Mexico after missing the 2026 World Cup. A successor is sought.
“All Venezuela calls for a restructuring of the vinotinto coaching staff, a realignment of the strategy, the doctrine, the way of fighting and working of the vininto,” said head of state Maduro in a speech. The association separated from the 55-year-old Argentinier Batista. “The decision is due to the fact that the sporting goals set for this cycle were not achieved,” said an official message.
Political influence on association decisions is prohibited according to the statutes of the FIFA World Federation Association. The process therefore raises questions.
Venezuela is a white spot in the history of the World Cup
Venezuela had lost 3: 6 against Colombia on Tuesday despite two leadership, playing the play-off place and the chance of participating in the first World Cup participation in his history. Bolivia surprisingly won 1-0 against Brazil in the parallel game and was still over in the table. Venezuela is the only country of the South American football association that has never participated in a soccer World Cup.
President Maduro had recently made the headlines when the US military had killed eleven people in an attack on a suspected drug smuggling boat from Venezuela. There were illegal drugs on board, US President Donald Trump said. The killed were members of the Venezuelan criminal gang “Tren de Aragua”, which was classified as a terrorist group by the United States in February. Trump confirmed the accusation that the drug cartel was controlled by Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, which Venezuela denies.
The relationship between Venezuela and the USA is at a low point. There have been tensions for years, they have recently grown. The Trump government doubled the reward to $ 50 million (around 43 million euros) for information that leads to the arrest of the Venezuelan president. The United States accused him of violating the US drug laws. Maduro brings deadly drugs – cocaine – and violence to the USA. The United States doubts the election in Venezuela in 2024 – the authoritarian Maduro had been sworn in despite an election accompanied by allegations of fraud, nationwide protests and international criticism for a third term until 2031.
PK/DPA
