🚨 Balogun case: FIFA president breaks silence

🚨 Balogun case: FIFA president breaks silence FIFA president Gianni Infantino has broken his silence amid the media and political storm shaking the 2026 World Cup. At the heart of the controversy is the historic and disputed decision by the Disciplinary Commission to lift the automatic suspension of American star striker Folarin Balogun just before the round of 16 clash against Belgium, following a direct phone call from US president Donald Trump. In response to accusations of political interference and the strong protests from the Belgian federation as well as several European bodies (including UEFA) , the head of world football sought to clarify FIFA’s position: "I have taken note of the public comments regarding the decision of FIFA’s independent Disciplinary Commission concerning the suspension of Folarin Balogun, and I wish to reiterate a fundamental principle of FIFA governance. FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases on the basis of the applicable regulations and the specific facts presented to them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected. Yes, I regularly discuss matters relating to the FIFA World Cup with the president of the United States, and on this matter, I did indeed receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders, and business leaders from around the world on many different subjects. During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal procedure involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the matter would be decided in due course by the competent authorities. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle I will always defend. I become aware of FIFA Disciplinary Commission decisions when they are published. Sometimes they surprise me. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I do not. 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 of no importance. Respect for independent institutions and the rule of law is what protects the integrity of our competitions and FIFA’s credibility at all times." Not sure this statement will help calm things down. As Belgium considers all legal options available to challenge what it describes as a direct contradiction of the World Cup regulations, Infantino’s statement is intended to put out a fire that threatens the long-term sporting ethics of the competition. Also read: UEFA takes aim at FIFA after Balogun suspension is lifted This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.