FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the governing body’s controversial decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s automatic one match ban following his red card at the FIFA World Cup, insisting the independence of FIFA’s judicial bodies remains central to the integrity of the game.
Balogun was sent off during the United States’ round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina after a VAR review ruled that his challenge on defender Tarik Muharemovic warranted a straight red card.
Under FIFA regulations, the dismissal automatically carried a one match suspension, which meant the former Arsenal striker was due to miss the United States’ last 16 clash against Belgium.
However, FIFA announced on Sunday that Balogun’s suspension had been “suspended”, making him eligible to feature in the knockout match. The decision immediately sparked fierce debate across the football world, especially after United States President Donald Trump confirmed he had asked Infantino to “review” the case.
The ruling has drawn widespread criticism. UEFA described FIFA’s decision as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable”, while several football figures questioned the timing and reasoning behind the move.
Despite the backlash, Infantino insisted FIFA’s credibility remains intact and stressed that the decision came through its independent disciplinary process.
In a statement, Infantino said: “I have seen the public comments regarding the decision of the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee related to the suspension 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 the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility 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 matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues.
“During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that 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 those 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 the credibility of FIFA at all times.”
Infantino’s statement comes as pressure continues to mount on FIFA to explain why Balogun’s automatic suspension was lifted. While the world governing body cited provisions within its disciplinary code to justify the decision, it has yet to provide a detailed explanation for why those regulations were applied in this particular case.
The controversy has become one of the biggest talking points of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with many questioning whether the unprecedented decision has set a new precedent for future disciplinary cases.
