Pressure continues to mount on Gianni Infantino following the decision to suspend USMNT striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban at the World Cup. Balogun was originally sent off during the U.S. round-of-32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina and was slated to miss the subsequent round-of-16 game against Belgium. However, FIFA’s independent disciplinary committee intervened to suspend the ban, allowing the 25-year-old to start in the match, which resulted in a 4-1 defeat for the United States.
Donald Trump Discusses Folarin Balogun’s Red Card with Gianni Infantino
The situation has drawn intense scrutiny regarding FIFA’s principle of political neutrality. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed he contacted Infantino to discuss the red card, characterizing the disciplinary action as a “great injustice.” Infantino defended his conduct, stating, “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.” Infantino added, “During our conversation with President Trump, 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.”
European Parliament Members Petition EU Football Associations
The controversy prompted significant legislative action. On Wednesday, 72 members of the European Parliament (MEPs) wrote to the 27 heads of EU football associations calling for an investigation into the decision-making process surrounding the Balogun case. This followed an earlier letter on June 29, in which 50 MEPs demanded that FIFA address an ethics complaint regarding Infantino awarding the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to President Trump in December 2025, alleging “repeated breaches” of political neutrality.
The legislative letter stated, “In light of the decision taken on Sunday to suspend the implementation of an automatic one-match suspension, we feel that it is time for European Football Associations, all of whom are member associations of FIFA, to intervene and ask that FIFA investigate the aforementioned decision-making processes.” The communication emphasized that Article 4(2) of the FIFA Statutes and Article 15 of the FIFA Code of Ethics explicitly mandate political neutrality for football officials.
Laura McAllister and UEFA Challenge the Suspension of the Ban
UEFA, the governing body of European soccer, publicly criticized the suspension of the ban, labeling the decision “incomprehensible” and stating it crossed a red line. Former Wales captain and UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister warned of the long-term consequences, telling BBC Radio Wales, “Any political leader could potentially pick up the phone and say there’s a precedent for changing a punishment awarded to a player and I think it’s extremely dangerous. To even create an environment where you can undermine the awarding of punishments on the pitch for right or wrong is very dangerous.”
The geopolitical backdrop involves a June 28 event in Brussels celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, where President Trump was gifted a custom-made 18-carat gold ring by the Antwerp World Diamond Center. The ring, created by jeweler David Gotlib, features 321 diamonds, 56 sapphires, 13 emeralds, and six rubies. While one source estimated the value at $1 million, jewelers consulted by the AP valued it closer to $35,000. The ceremony, hosted by U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Bill White, was attended by dignitaries including Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
FairSquare, a non-profit organization focused on human rights and sport, announced it would file a complaint to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding Infantino’s conduct. As of Wednesday, The Athletic reported that it had contacted FIFA for comment on the mounting calls for an investigation.
Find more reporting in our スポーツ section.