World Cup 2026: Trump Did Not Influenced FIFA’s Decision To Reverse Balogun’s Red Card –Infantino

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that he received a call from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the suspension of American striker Folarin Balogun but asserted that the call did not influence the verdict.

He stated that he reminded Trump that FIFA’s disciplinary bodies act independently and autonomously according to established regulations.

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Recall that Balogun received a controversial red card during the USA’s round-of-32 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina, resulting in an automatic one-match ban.

“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.

“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 said.

“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.

“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,” he said.