Infantino admits Trump call over player ban, stresses FIFA independence

FIFA President Gianni Infantino acknowledged speaking with then-U.S. President Donald Trump about a disciplinary matter involving U.S. player Folarin Balogun. The conversation occurred before FIFA's disciplinary committee decided to lift Balogun's suspension, allowing him to play against Belgium after being sent off in a previous match.

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Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I received a call from President Donald Trump.

Infantino stated that such discussions with heads of state are regular occurrences. He clarified that during his call with Trump, he explained the independent nature of FIFA's judicial bodies and the ongoing legal process. He stressed that these committees operate autonomously and make decisions based on applicable regulations.

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I explained to the president 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.

Despite criticism over the decision regarding the U.S. attacker, Infantino maintained that his office does not influence these rulings. He emphasized that the independence of FIFA's tribunals is crucial for the integrity of competitions and the organization's credibility. Infantino admitted that he sometimes finds the committee's decisions surprising, agreeing with some and disagreeing with others.

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FIFA's judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on applicable regulations.