Marcelo Bielsa's Maverick FIFA Photoshoot Stirs Controversy

The Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa has lived up to his maverick reputation by refusing to cooperate during a bizarre photoshoot for Fifa at the 2026 World Cup.

Bielsa – known as El Loco – stared down at the floor, hands in pockets, statuesque, during the obligatory media duty last Wednesday. The 70-year-old hit back at reporters when quizzed about the incident after Uruguay’s 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia on Monday.

“I’m not a model,” Bielsa said. “I don’t have to give any explanation, the picture was taken the way it was taken. Should I also explain why I don’t look to the people who are speaking to me at this moment?”

Bielsa’s continued his rant even when reporters moved on from the topic: “There is a limit in terms of what we need to explain. If I’m wearing glasses, why am I wearing glasses? You look somebody in the eye, why do you do that? There is nothing wrong about wearing glasses or looking into somebody’s eyes or looking down.”

The Getty photographers Michael Regan and Molly Darlington shot portraits of the entire Uruguay team in Cancún, Mexico, on 10 June. They had no trouble getting emotive photos of the Uruguay players, but it is Bielsa’s awkward image that has become one of the first viral pictures of the tournament.

The Argentine is well known for being eccentric: during is time as the Leeds United manager he would sit on a plastic bucket to relieve chronic back pain. He also personally paid a £200,000 fine which the club received after spying on Championship rivals.