FIFA chiefs are planning to rewrite the World Cup disciplinary rules to prevent another Folarin Balogun scandal. The biggest competition in sport was rocked during the summer after alleged involvement from Donald Trump following Balogun's red card.
The striker was controversially sent off during the USA's round-of-32 tie against Bosnia & Herzegovina, sparking calls for the decision to be rescinded. However, there are no direct appeal laws for red cards at the World Cup, but that didn't stop President Trump from - in his words - 'taking care of it'. Balogun's red card was eventually suspended, but FIFA president Gianni Infantino insisted Trump didn't have any involvement in the decision.
Regardless, it sparked fury, to the point where the USA's round-of-16 opponents, Belgium, threatened to take them to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if they had lost.
New rules to prevent future fallout
Fast-forward three months, and today, FIFA are moving to prevent similar fallout from clouding the tournament in the future. The new rules will explicitly state that an automatic ban is required for any red card unless the wrong player was sent off.
In a document briefing the change, FIFA bosses said: "There was never a doubt nor lack of clarity on how the automatic suspension following a red card is to be served. This is a way for FIFA to cure the handling of the Balogun case during the World Cup."
FIFA's financial controversies
It comes after Infantino and FIFA were called into disrepute for the controversial plan to sell off stakes in the governing body's competitions. There had been a willingness to allow private investment into the governing body's competitions, with a proposal that would've seen all 211 members given £30million if they backed the move.
After the threat of a boycott from UEFA members, as well as severe backlash from across the world of football, FIFA backed down from the proposal in August.
In a statement, Infantino said: "Our purpose has always been - and will always be - to unite and improve. Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game."
New financial proposal expected
In the meantime, FIFA are expected to put forward a new proposal that would see more than £4.5bn distributed into the game. As such, member associations would bank £18.8m over a four-year cycle, up by £11m from the previously planned payment.
This money would come from its financial reserves, based on the unprecedented commercial success of the 48-team World Cup.
