Trump responsible for 'most serious incident in football history'

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FT Desk

FIFA's decision to overturn Folarin Balogun's suspension during the World Cup has been described as the "most serious" incident in the history of football.

During the USMNT’s Round of 32 match against Bosnia & Herzegovina, the forward was shown a straight red card following a challenge on defender Tarik Muharemovic. The dismissal meant that Balogun was automatically suspended for the United States’ last-16 meeting with Belgium after the Americans progressed to the next round.

However, the situation took an unexpected turn when reports emerged that FIFA had overturned Balogun’s suspension, meaning he would be available to play against Belgium.

The Belgian Football Association responded angrily to the decision, issuing a statement in which it said it was “astonished” by FIFA’s ruling. The association also stated that it would continue to seek justice regardless of the result of the match.

It was subsequently disclosed by United States President Donald Trump that he had personally contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino and requested that Balogun be allowed to play against Belgium. FIFA later removed the suspension under Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, which allows the organisation “to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”

Infantino faced fierce criticism over the decision, though it was reported it was made by a member of the disciplinary committee.

La Liga President Javier Tebas is under no illusions about how serious it is that FIFA intervened after a request from Trump.

"We have FIFA, which has overturned a red card because the president of a country called the FIFA president," Tebas said at a FIFPro event in London.

"This is the most serious incident in the history of football. I think that, for this to be resolved, the issue of governance has to be addressed clearly."

Infantino has long been criticised for his relationship with Trump as FIFA is supposed to be a politically neutral organisation

Following the World Cup, news broke that Infantino was planning to sell shares in the tournament to private equity firms. He received universal condemnation over the proposals, which were scrapped after just a few days.

UEFA accused him of trying to sell the soul of football.

"Gianni Infantino is not someone who contributes to the growth of football," Tebas told Le Monde.

"On the contrary, his projects are destroying the very essence of the sport: the national leagues.

"Football is not limited to the elite. For me, the Infantino era is over."

The Italian has already announced an intention to run again as FIFA President in 2027, though continental federations like UEFA are busy shortlisting their own candidates to stand against him.