FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing mounting pressure to resign after he lifted the suspension of USA forward Folarin Balogun ahead of their 4-1 World Cup Round of 16 defeat to Belgium. The decision, which followed an intervention from USA President Donald Trump, has sparked allegations of political interference and drawn widespread criticism.
Controversy Over Balogun's Suspension
Balogun had been sent off during the USA's Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina last week. However, FIFA announced on Sunday that his dismissal had been suspended for a year, allowing him to start against Belgium. The decision prompted an unsuccessful appeal from Belgium, with many accusing FIFA of political interference after revelations surfaced that Trump called Infantino about the incident. Infantino has rejected any suggestions of political interference, defending the independence of FIFA's disciplinary committee.
Pressure on Infantino to Resign
Infantino has so far dodged calls to resign, and it is believed he has no plans to step down. He is keen to stand for another term as FIFA President, with the next presidential election scheduled for 18 March 2027 in Rabat, Morocco. Despite outside pressure, the likelihood of Infantino being deposed remains low, as he retains support in Africa and South America. However, if those federations and political leaders take the same stance as Europe, the pressure could become insurmountable.
Who Has Called for Infantino to Resign?
Among those calling for Infantino's resignation are David Bernstein, former chair of the Football Association, and a number of British politicians. Jurgen Klopp, who is set to become Germany's new manager, and disgraced former FIFA President Sepp Blatter have also criticised Infantino.
Infantino's Tenure and Controversies
Infantino was first elected as FIFA president in 2016 after Blatter's departure. He won re-election unopposed in 2019 and 2023 and hopes to do so for a third time in 2027, which would see him in post until 2031. He already has formal backing from several continental football bodies, including the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and South America's CONMEBOL, representing 111 of FIFA's 211 Member Associations.
Infantino has been dogged by controversy throughout his tenure. He was named in the Panama Papers shortly after his election, co-signing a television-rights contract with a company linked to the FIFA corruption investigation. The FIFA Ethics Committee opened an examination into whether he had breached the FIFA Code of Ethics in 2016. In 2017, he removed Cornel Borbely and Hans-Joachim Eckert from their positions as chairmen of the ethics committee's investigatory and adjudicatory chambers. He also held undisclosed meetings with the Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber, who later resigned after a federal court found he had breached his official duties. Criminal charges against Infantino and Lauber were dropped in 2023.
Infantino has maintained relationships with political leaders such as Trump, who was awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in 2025, as well as Russian leader Vladimir Putin and the ruling families of Qatar and Saudi Arabia. He has been widely criticised for his handling of human rights abuses at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, famously saying he felt 'Qatari, Arab, African, gay, disabled (and) like a migrant worker' in an attempt to address criticism.
Potential Successors
Having won re-election unopposed in 2019 and 2023, there are currently no standout candidates to replace Infantino. He would be confident of serving another four-year term if he stood for re-election in 2027.
