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SEATTLE — FIFA President Gianni Infantino has hit back against suggestions that U.S. President Donald Trump influenced the decision to overturn Folarin Balogun's red card suspension.
There has been a growing firestorm over FIFA's last-minute decision to allow U.S. forward Balogun to play in Monday's World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium, following his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Though FIFA statutes mandate a one-game suspension, FIFA's Disciplinary Committee announced a surprising reversal on Sunday, just over 24 hours before kickoff of the game at Lumen Field.
The decision has become even more controversial after multiple reports that Trump contacted Infantino directly in an effort to overturn the decision. Trump himself said as much on Monday.
"All I did, I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul," Trump told reporters on July 6 in the Oval Office.
Trump and Infantino have enjoyed a cozy relationship for years, with the reversal of Balogun's red card giving at least the appearance of government meddling in the World Cup.
Amid criticism of his handling of the situation, Infantino released a statement on Monday confirming he and Trump had spoken over the red card decision, but reiterating that FIFA's Disciplinary Committee operates independently.
"FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected," Infantino said.
“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.
"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."
The Belgian federation said it was "astonished" by FIFA’s decision to suspend Balogun's ban for a period of one year, rather than impose its usual punishment.
Belgium has been granted the right to appeal the decision. The appeal committee ruled that Belgium's request was inadmissible because the country's soccer federation "is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: FIFA president Infantino denies Trump influenced Balogun red card reversal
Continue reading...
There has been a growing firestorm over FIFA's last-minute decision to allow U.S. forward Balogun to play in Monday's World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium, following his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Though FIFA statutes mandate a one-game suspension, FIFA's Disciplinary Committee announced a surprising reversal on Sunday, just over 24 hours before kickoff of the game at Lumen Field.
The decision has become even more controversial after multiple reports that Trump contacted Infantino directly in an effort to overturn the decision. Trump himself said as much on Monday.
"All I did, I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul," Trump told reporters on July 6 in the Oval Office.
Trump and Infantino have enjoyed a cozy relationship for years, with the reversal of Balogun's red card giving at least the appearance of government meddling in the World Cup.
Amid criticism of his handling of the situation, Infantino released a statement on Monday confirming he and Trump had spoken over the red card decision, but reiterating that FIFA's Disciplinary Committee operates independently.
"FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected," Infantino said.
“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.
"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."
The Belgian federation said it was "astonished" by FIFA’s decision to suspend Balogun's ban for a period of one year, rather than impose its usual punishment.
Belgium has been granted the right to appeal the decision. The appeal committee ruled that Belgium's request was inadmissible because the country's soccer federation "is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: FIFA president Infantino denies Trump influenced Balogun red card reversal
Continue reading...
