FIFA President Talks About Trump's Call Over Balogun's Red Card

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the independence of FIFA’s disciplinary process. This comes after strong criticism over the decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s automatic World Cup ban.

Infantino confirmed he spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump about Balogun’s case. He said the final decision is up to FIFA’s independent judicial bodies.

“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 in a statement.

“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 stressed that protecting this independence is key to the credibility of world football. “Their independence is essential to the integrity of football, and this must always be respected,” he added.

His statement came shortly after President Trump openly admitted asking FIFA to review the red card given to Balogun. Trump argued that the U.S. striker was treated unfairly.

Earlier, Trump suggested that Balogun’s red card during the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina was due to an accidental collision, not serious foul play. He confirmed he contacted a FIFA official to request a review of the situation.

Infantino acknowledged the call but insisted that no political leader can interfere with the judicial process. “Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States,” he said. “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.”

According to Infantino, he informed Trump that the case was already with FIFA’s disciplinary bodies. “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 authorities. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.”

Balogun received a straight red card during the United States’ Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. FIFA rules state that players sent off are automatically suspended for their team’s next match.

Later, the Disciplinary Committee suspended the one-match ban under Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. This allowed Balogun to play against Belgium in the Round of 16.

This decision has faced a lot of backlash. UEFA accused FIFA of “crossing a red line,” saying automatic suspensions for red cards should not change during the tournament.

Belgium, who are the U.S. knockout opponents, also questioned the ruling. Head coach Rudi Garcia said his team was “defending football” by challenging the decision. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter also took to social media, saying, “political phone calls do not overturn red cards” and insisting that “football must never become a playground for political power.”

The issue has become a major governance topic of the tournament. Critics are asking why Balogun was treated differently from players who served automatic suspensions for similar actions.

Without commenting on Balogun's situation directly, Infantino said he does not always agree with FIFA’s disciplinary decisions but respects their independence. “I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued,” he said. “Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree.”

The FIFA president stated that personal opinions should not influence legal processes. “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.”

While Infantino’s statement aims to assure the football world about FIFA’s disciplinary system, the debate over Balogun’s eligibility is likely to continue.