A post is being shared on social media claiming that Former English Football sportsman Frank Lampard called FIFA a corrupt body saying that it hates Portugal Football star Cristiano Ronaldo. The purported statement of Frank Lampard shared in the post states, “FIFA hates Cristiano Ronaldo. I don’t know how he managed to win five Ballon d’Or with this corrupt FIFA”. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Claim: Frank Lampard’s comments about FIFA hating Cristiano Ronaldo.
Fact: Frank Lampard did not make any such statement saying FIFA hates Portugal Football star Cristiano Ronaldo. In 2021, Frank Lampard during an interview chose Cristiano Ronaldo over Messi for his game-winning performances in the semi-finals and finals of the tournaments. But he did not make any statement calling FIFA a corrupt body saying that it hates Cristiano Ronaldo. Hence, the claim made in the post is False.
When we searched to check whether former English football player Frank Lampard had made any such statement calling FIFA a corrupt body and that it hates Portugal football star Cristiano Ronaldo, we could not find evidence of such a statement in any of his interviews or in any of his social media handles (Facebook, Instagram).
In 2021, during an interview, Frank Lampard picked Ronaldo over Messi in Ronaldo vs Messi debate stating, “I actually think for what Ronaldo’s output and actual numbers and goals in big finals, and semi-finals like we’ve seen. I think I maybe give him the edge now.” Reporting Frank Lampard’s statement, several news websites published articles in 2021. They can be seen here and here. Frank Lampard on multiple occasions regarded Ronaldo as an incredible player.
Responding to the 2015 FIFA corruption scandal during an interview, Frank Lampard said, “I think you have to look at two things, one the whole case and whether they are found guilty or not then it’s a simple decision. Maybe now the world of football needs to move on and get someone else in”. Frank Lampard further added, “I think it’s good if it’s investigated in the right way and if they’ve been doing these terrible things, with the biggest game in the world, it’s such a worldwide sport and it shouldn’t be dealt with in that way”. But there is no credible evidence to confirm that Frank Lampard said FIFA hates Cristiano Ronaldo.
To sum it up, Frank Lampard did not make any comments stating that FIFA hates Portugal Football star Cristiano Ronaldo.
