Trump calls red card U-turn 'brilliant'
Infantino said FIFA’s disciplinary bodies act independently after critics said the suspension showed political influence in a case that drew backlash from federations and officials.
- On Monday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the organization's disciplinary process after President Donald Trump praised FIFA's decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's World Cup red-card ban.
- Trump confirmed personally calling Infantino to request a review of Balogun's red card after the striker was sent off during the United States' victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 1.
- UEFA accused FIFA of having "crossed a red line," warning that football depends on consistent rules; former FIFA President Sepp Blatter wrote that red cards are not overturned by political phone calls.
- With Balogun cleared, the striker will compete in the United States' Round of 16 match against Belgium; England and France are considering appeals of their own players' suspensions following this precedent.
- Critics are calling for Infantino to resign, citing the optics of his communication with Trump and the FIFA Peace Prize presented to the U.S. president last year during the disciplinary process.
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30 Articles
Gianni Infantino is getting more and more into the defensive: Trump's intervention and the U.S. decision are flying around the ears of his world association, because suddenly many are revolting – and there is a new ad.
Is Gianni Infantino’s job at risk after World Cup red card row?
UEFA, European politicians and senior figures across football are putting pressure on FIFA after its handling of the Folarin Balogun controversy raised questions over the organisation’s governance. Frustration and anger over the decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s World Cup red card have turned into questions over FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s future. The controversy started after the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) forward was shown a red…
Red card, parole sentence, political phone calls: The Balogun case is a whirlwind – but can the FIFA boss Infantino become dangerous? That speaks against a football revolution.
Folarin Balogun red card: did Fifa cross a red line?
“The only thing more riling than a referee’s interference in a sports event is a politician’s,” said Sally Jenkins in The Atlantic. The red card issued against US star striker Folarin Balogun for “stepping on an opponent’s ankle” during the World Cup match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, was a “terrible call”. But Fifa’s regulations “couldn’t be clearer”: a red card means “automatic suspension for the next game”. Instead, the tournament organisers “…
European lawmakers call for probe into Infantino over Trump’s role in Balogun red card suspension
Lawmakers are urging national football associations to push FIFA’s Ethics Committee to investigate Infantino, including whether pressure by the Trump administration influenced the lifting of the suspension
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