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Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has criticized his successor, Gianni Infantino, over the controversial decision to overturn the red card suspension of US international Folarin Balogun. The striker was sanctioned during the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina for a dangerous tackle, but the penalty was surprisingly replaced with a “conditional” one without explanation. According to some reports, this decision followed a call from Donald Trump.
“Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned based on rules, evidence, and independent bodies,” Infantino’s X profile states.
“If a US President intervenes with the FIFA President — and a player is suddenly reinstated before a World Cup knockout match — the question is inevitable: Where are you going, FIFA? Football should never become a playground for political power.”
Due to the overturned suspension, Balogun is now eligible to play in the Americans' Round of 16 match against Belgium tonight.
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