FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that he held a phone conversation with United States President Donald Trump regarding the controversial suspension of American striker Folarin Balogun following his red card.
In a statement, Infantino emphasized that FIFA’s judicial bodies operate independently and are solely responsible for handling disciplinary matters in accordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code and the evidence presented in each case.
He stressed that the independence of these judicial bodies is essential to maintaining the integrity and credibility of football worldwide.
Infantino acknowledged receiving a call from President Trump, explaining that he regularly communicates with world leaders, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives on issues relating to the FIFA World Cup and the sport in general.
According to him, during the discussion, he informed the U.S. president that the Balogun case was already before FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and would be resolved through the established disciplinary process.
The FIFA president reiterated that disciplinary decisions are made without interference and that he remains committed to respecting the autonomy of the organisation’s judicial institutions.
He added that although he sometimes agrees with decisions taken by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and at other times disagrees, he consistently respects their rulings because the rule of law and institutional independence are vital to protecting the credibility of FIFA competitions.
Infantino concluded by saying that personal opinions should never outweigh established procedures, noting that respect for independent institutions remains fundamental to the governance of world football.
