Infantino Explains Controversial Case

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has issued an official statement following the uproar surrounding the decision to overturn the red card for US top scorer Folarin Balogun, who was subsequently cleared to play in tonight's Round of 16 clash against Belgium. Earlier today, US President Donald Trump admitted to having spoken with Infantino on the matter, further embarrassing the FIFA strongman. Infantino emphasized that he holds numerous such conversations with other heads of state, adding that decisions are made by independent committees, which he cannot influence, regardless of whether he likes a particular ruling or not.

"I have seen the public comments regarding the decision of the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee concerning the dismissal 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 applicable regulations and the specific facts at hand. Their independence is essential for the trust and integrity of football, and this must always be respected.

Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this particular issue, I received 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 matters. During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing procedure involving FIFA's independent judicial bodies, and that the case would be resolved in due course by the competent authorities. This is how the FIFA system works, and it is a principle I will always uphold.

I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree.

What I always do, however, is respect these decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them. Whether we personally like a decision or not is irrelevant. Respect for independent institutions and the rule of law is what protects the integrity of our competitions and trust in FIFA at all times."