Fifa poised for rule change to avoid Folarin Balogun scandal repeat

Fifa is preparing to alter its regulations to prevent any repeat of the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun. A dispute over political interference erupted after Fifa’s disciplinary committee opted to suspend an automatic one-match ban handed to the United States forward during the World Cup. The intervention came after US president Donald Trump publicly disclosed that he had personally phoned Fifa counterpart Gianni Infantino to request a review of the decision. A proposal to explicitly prohibit the suspension of automatic one-game bans in the future is expected to be introduced at Thursday’s Fifa Council meeting in Zurich. However, the regulatory change alone is unlikely to satisfy critics seeking a full explanation of how Balogun’s suspension was set aside. Among those seeking answers is Football Association chair and Fifa vice-president Debbie Hewitt, who wrote to Infantino last month requesting the disclosure of all documents related to the case. Infantino has consistently maintained that the disciplinary panel reached its decision independently of his office. Trump revealed he called Infantino over Balogun’s red card (Bradley Collyer/PA) (PA Wire) Hewitt and fellow Council members are also expected to press Infantino for further details regarding the abandoned Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal. The initiative aimed to bring private investment into a commercial arm that would oversee the financial rights of the World Cup and other major tournaments. The Swiss official faced calls to step down over the summer from the presidents of three continental confederations, including Uefa, after details of the FFE plan - developed without consulting the Fifa Council - were disclosed in media reports. While Infantino appeared under severe pressure initially, he remains intent on standing for a fourth term as president at next year’s Fifa Congress and holds a strong position. Last week, he secured unanimous backing from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), alongside robust support across South America, Oceania, and Asia. The president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, who urged Infantino to resign in August, appeared to soften his stance last month in a letter advocating for an internal working group to explore governance reforms. Uefa has committed to putting forward a credible opposition candidate before the 18 November deadline, but Infantino presents a formidable challenge for any contender. The Fifa Peace Prize is also listed for discussion on Thursday following a request from a Council member. Reports indicate the Council is seeking clarity on the process for this year's award, which was presented to President Trump for the first time last December. Infantino may also face questioning regarding Fifa’s lease for office space in New York's Trump Tower, where the governing body reportedly agreed to pay $4 million (just over £3m) over seven years. Additionally, reports surfaced this week that Infantino received a £1.3m payment in 2024 from an American Fifa World Cup subsidiary company that was omitted from Fifa’s annual financial report. Infantino is set to face significant scrutiny from Fifa’s Council (Reuters) The Council is also set to consider a proposal from Fifa administrators to distribute $6.35 billion (£4.8bn) to member nations and continental confederations over the next three years, including $25 million (£19m) to each of Fifa’s 211 member countries. That allocation would more than double the amount originally scheduled for distribution in the 2027 to 2030 cycle. The plan follows a letter sent to Infantino on 18 September by the presidents of Uefa and Concacaf, urging that every national association receive an additional $10 million (£7.6m) through a single release from Fifa’s cash reserves, estimated at $6 billion (£4.5bn). Aleksander Ceferin and Victor Montagliani stated that releasing the funds would demonstrate that member bodies "should not have to choose between development and good governance; between investment and integrity; or between financial support and the ability to consider proposals on their merits". The remarks were seen as a direct reference to FFE, as Fifa had previously pledged increased development funding to federations if the project was approved. Fifa has been approached for comment on the proposed financial increase. The Council is also expected to confirm host nations for several competitions, including the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup in 2028, with the US regarded as the front-runner to stage the event.