FIFA president Gianni Infantino has issued a statement defending the decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's red card, which had sparked controversy after a request from US President Donald Trump.
Background of the Incident
Balogun was sent off during the USA's World Cup round of 32 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina. The red card was issued after a VAR review of a tackle he made on defender Tarik Muharemovic. According to FIFA regulations, the mandatory punishment for a red card is an automatic one-match ban, which would have sidelined Balogun for the last-16 tie against Belgium.
However, FIFA announced on Sunday that Balogun's ban has been “suspended”. This decision came after US President Donald Trump confirmed he had asked Infantino to “review” the matter.
Infantino's Statement
Infantino has faced heavy criticism, with UEFA expressing “disbelief” at the decision, calling it “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable”. In his statement, Infantino emphasised the independence of FIFA's judicial bodies and defended the process.
“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,” Infantino said. “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 acknowledged receiving a call from Trump but maintained that the decision was made independently. “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.”
Reactions and Implications
Infantino also addressed the varying reactions to the decision. “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. 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.”
The suspension allows Balogun to play in the crucial last-16 match against Belgium. The decision has raised questions about the influence of political figures on football governance, though Infantino insists the process remained independent.
