FIFA President Infantino stresses committee independence in Balogun case

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has asserted the autonomy of the organization's committees following the reversal of a red card issued to US footballer Folarin Balogun. Infantino stated that FIFA's independent legal bodies were handling the ongoing proceedings and that any suggestion of influence from then-US President Donald Trump was unfounded.

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I explained that there is an ongoing legal process involving FIFA's independent legal bodies, and the case will be decided by the competent bodies in due course.

"I explained that there is an ongoing legal process involving FIFA's independent legal bodies, and the case will be decided by the competent bodies in due course," Infantino was quoted as saying in an official statement. This statement came after reports that Trump had contacted Infantino to request the annulment of Balogun's red card, which was shown during the USA's match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. FIFA lifted the suspension on Balogun without providing an explanation.

However, the decision has sparked resistance within FIFA. The Belgian Football Association (RBFA), whose team is set to face the US in the round of 16, initially appealed to the FIFA Appeals Committee, which dismissed their request as inadmissible. The RBFA has since threatened further action, stating they would challenge Balogun's eligibility to play if he is listed on the referee's match report for Tuesday's game against the host nation USA.

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This is an absolute non-statement. The whole process is a complete disaster.

Criticism of Infantino's handling of the situation has also emerged outside of football associations. Former national player and current TV pundit Mats Hummels described Infantino's statement as "an absolute non-statement" and called the entire affair "a complete disaster." Hummels argued that it creates an unacceptable impression that a host country's president can influence decisions, leading to a perceived distortion of competition and a feeling of unfairness.

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It should not happen that the impression is given that the president of a host country calls and gets decisions reversed. That is a distortion of competition and feels extremely unfair.