Blatter questions 'political power' after Trump phone call to FIFA

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has questioned the world football governing body's decision to suspend a red card issued to U.S. striker Florian Balogun. Sources suggest that U.S. President Donald Trump contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino, prompting a review of the automatic one-match suspension.

Balogun, 25, is now eligible to play against Belgium in the World Cup's round of 16 after his ban was suspended. However, FIFA has not provided an explanation for this decision. Blatter, now 90, expressed his concerns on social media platform X, stating that red cards cannot be canceled through political phone calls.

"It can only be canceled based on rules, evidence and decisions of an independent body," Blatter wrote. He questioned FIFA's direction, asking, "If a President of the United States interferes with the President of FIFA and a player is suddenly released from punishment before a World Cup knockout match. The unavoidable question is: Quo vadis (Where are you going), FIFA? Football should not be a playground for political power games."

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Red cards cannot be canceled through political phone calls. It can only be canceled based on rules, evidence and decisions of an independent body.

Blatter, who resigned as FIFA President in 2015 amid a corruption scandal and was subsequently banned from football activities, has been a frequent critic of Infantino. He previously described FIFA as a "dictatorship" in an interview with German newspaper Bild.

The decision has also drawn criticism from the European football governing body, UEFA, as well as Belgian coach Rudi Garcia and former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

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If a President of the United States interferes with the President of FIFA and a player is suddenly released from punishment before a World Cup knockout match. The unavoidable question is: Quo vadis (Where are you going), FIFA? Football should not be a playground for political power games.