A World Cup Misstep That Could Cement Lammens’ Power

When former pundit Tom Heaton said a World Cup error will make Matías Lammens stronger, he was naming a familiar political law: crisis concentrates choices. The stumble in tournament organisation — whether ticketing, logistics or public relations — exposed institutional weakness, but also handed Lammens the agenda-setting power he lacked in calm times.

Power consolidates in two ways after visible failure: by fixing the problem and by defining the narrative. Lammens can choose to own accountability, drive reform and redraw responsibilities within the football ecosystem, or he can allow opponents to frame the episode as a systemic collapse. The difference between a strengthened leader and a scapegoated minister will be who controls the first 72 hours of the response.

There are real risks. Public trust is brittle after a national embarrassment at the World Cup; technical solutions alone will not heal reputational damage. If Lammens opts for opacity or symbolic purges without structural change — clearer procurement rules, independent oversight, and stakeholder engagement — the short-term boost Heaton predicts will evaporate, leaving only resentment.

The Guru’s forecast: Lammens will emerge stronger if he pares politics from process, accepts independent audits, and turns the error into a blueprint for reform rather than a theatre of blame. My recommendation: publish the audit, set a 90-day action plan with measurable targets, and invite the clubs and fan groups into the repair process. That is how you turn an error into authority.