Infantino defends FIFA judicial independence, admits Trump called over Balogun case
Seattle, July 7
FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump had called him regarding the disciplinary case involving the U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, but stressed that the decision to suspend the enforcement of the player's one-match ban was made independently by FIFA's judicial bodies.
Balogun was sent off for stamping on defender Tarik Muharemovic during the U.S. 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup round of 32 on July 1.
Last Sunday, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee imposed a one-match suspension on Balogun but suspended the enforcement of the sanction for a one-year probationary period - under Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, allowing the U.S. leading scorer to remain eligible for Monday's round-of-16 clash against Belgium.
The ruling drew strong criticism from the Belgian Football Association, which issued statements expressing "astonishment" at the decision. European football governing body UEFA also condemned the ruling, saying it had "crossed a red line" and could have negative consequences for the game as a whole.
Responding to the criticism, Infantino reiterated the independence of FIFA's judicial bodies.
"I have seen the public comments regarding the decision of the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee related to the suspension of Folarin Balogun, and I would like to reiterate a fundamental principle of FIFA's governance.
"FIFA's judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected."
Infantino also confirmed that Trump had contacted him about the case. "Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues," he said.
"During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA's independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That is how FIFA's system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold."
Infantino said he respected the autonomy of FIFA's judicial bodies regardless of his personal views on their decisions.
"I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree," he said.
"What I always do, however, is respect those decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them. Whether we personally like a decision or not is irrelevant. Respect for independent institutions and the rule of law is what protects the integrity of our competitions and the credibility of FIFA at all times."
Trump had previously acknowledged in an interview that he had called Infantino and urged FIFA to review Balogun's red card decision.
According to sports statistics provider Opta, no player has ever appeared in his team's next FIFA World Cup match after receiving a red card since the introduction of the yellow and red card system in 1970.
Should Balogun take the field against Belgium on Monday in Seattle, he would become the first player in World Cup history to do so.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Let's be honest, Balogun is a fantastic player and the US needs him against Belgium. But rules are rules! If you stamp on someone, you should face the consequences. I understand the Belgian outrage - it's not fair when decisions seem politically motivated. India has faced similar issues in cricket with the BCCI - some teams get preferential treatment. Good on Infantino for at least acknowledging the call, but transparency is key here. 🙏
World Cup ra bajaa... 🏆 When Trump calls directly, what do you expect? The whole world knows how American influence works in global sports. FIFA should have stuck to the rule book. If a player from Cameroon or Ghana had done this, would there have been a special probation period? I doubt it. Respect to the Belgian FA for calling this out - someone needs to stop this hypocrisy.
Interesting how Infantino tried to play it balanced by saying he sometimes disagrees with decisions but respects the process. That's actually a sensible approach for any sports administrator. Trump calling is no surprise - US presidents always advocate for their stars. But the real issue is the precedent this sets. Football already has enough controversy with VAR and refereeing decisions. Making exceptions for high-profile players is a slippery slope. 🤔
I'm from the US, and even I think this is wrong. We shouldn't need the President calling FIFA to keep Balogun on the field. The discipline committee should have just followed the rule book. Now USA looks entitled - we don't need that reputation. Let the best team win on merit, not special treatment. Period.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.