Following the suspension of United States striker Folarin Balogun after his red card, the President of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, Gianni Infantino, has confirmed that President Donald Trump called him about the matter while defending FIFA’s judicial process.
Reacting to the decision in a statement released by FIFA Media, Infantino explained that FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent, operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them.
He noted that the independence of the judicial bodies is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, stressing that it must always be respected.
“Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders, and business executives from around the world on many different issues,” Infantino said.
“During our conversation, I explained 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. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.”
According to him, he reads the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued.
“Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree,” he stated.
However, Infantino affirmed that he respects those decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them.
He emphasised that whether anyone likes a decision or not is irrelevant, adding that respect for independent institutions and the rule of law protects the integrity of FIFA competitions and the organisation’s credibility at all times.
