EU Calls for "Fair Play" After Trump's Intervention in Balogun Case

The European Commission called for "fair play and transparent competition" in sports after the suspension of American star Folarin Balogun was overturned following a phone call between President Donald Trump and FIFA chief Gianni Infantino.

In a statement on Monday, European Commission spokesperson Eva Hrncírová declined to comment specifically on Balogun's case but emphasized that sports federations should be free to make their own decisions.

"We respect the autonomy of sport and the right of sports federations to determine the criteria by which participants compete," Hrncírová stated.

However, she added that "any such decision must obviously be taken based on objective and transparent criteria," stressing more broadly that "the EU supports the principle of fair play and transparent competition."

Balogun received a red card in the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina during the first knockout round, meaning he would be suspended for the Round of 16 clash against Belgium. It emerged that after Trump called Infantino on Thursday, the suspension was overturned. FIFA declined to confirm specific conversations but reiterated to POLITICO that an independent disciplinary committee had decided to revoke the one-match ban.

European Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef issued a sharper rebuke, suggesting that political interference in sporting decisions risks undermining the independence of governing bodies.

"Decisions regarding sports rules and sporting matters belong to sports bodies, not politicians," Micallef wrote on X. "Influencing sports decisions would undermine the autonomy of sport."

Micallef stated that he believed FIFA had made a "wrong decision," adding that attention should instead be focused on "the real governance challenges facing sport, including its use as a weapon for political purposes."

UEFA, European football's governing body, issued a strongly worded statement, calling FIFA's move "incomprehensible and unjustified" and accusing the global football body of crossing a "red line."

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot told POLITICO that FIFA's decision "clearly raises many questions." He argued that "if a phone call truly led to this incomprehensible decision, it would undermine the most fundamental rules of football and sport," and questioned FIFA's ability to "credibly defend fair play."

In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer also offered mild criticism of the decision. "These decisions are a matter for the global football governing body and should remain so," a spokesperson for Starmer told reporters this morning when asked about Trump's intervention, before adding: "The Prime Minister supports the integrity of competitions across all sports."