Balogun red card fury – Trump branded ‘gangster’, Infantino ‘must go’ | UK | News
Mounting criticism of FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been led by Jürgen Klopp after world football’s governing body overturned Folarin Balogun’s World Cup suspension following intervention from US President Donald Trump.
Infantino is facing growing pressure after Trump publicly revealed he had asked for a review of Balogun’s red card, a decision that allowed the United States striker to feature in Monday night’s World Cup last-16 clash with Belgium.
Balogun was included in the USA’s starting line-up after FIFA suspended the one-match ban he received following his dismissal against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The decision has prompted the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) to consider legal action.
Before kick-off, the RBFA informed US Soccer that it disputed Balogun’s eligibility should he appear on the official teamsheet, adding that it reserved the right to pursue further action.
Speaking during a press conference in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump confirmed he had personally requested a review of the incident because he believed Balogun should never have been sent off.
“I didn’t think it was a foul,” the US president said.
The controversy has sparked one of the strongest public backlashes against Infantino during his time in charge of FIFA.
Former Liverpool manager Klopp joined UEFA and the football associations of Germany and Belgium in criticising the governing body’s handling of the case.
“This is our sport, not theirs,” Klopp said.
“If Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino really sorted this out between themselves, it is madness; it calls everything into question.”
The row has also prompted fresh calls for Infantino to resign. The Express contacted Infantino via FIFA for his comment.
Former Football Association chairman David Bernstein, who previously campaigned against former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, described the situation as “absolutely wrong” and “awful”, reports the Daily Telegraph.
“It hits at one of the beauties of football – the worldwide application across the world of regulations and rules,” he said.
FIFA relied on Article 27 of its disciplinary code to suspend Balogun’s red-card ban for one year, allowing him to play while the matter remains under review.
The decision has already triggered further appeals elsewhere in the tournament.
The Football Association is considering whether to challenge Jarell Quansah’s suspension following his red card in England’s victory over Mexico, while France are seeking to have Michael Olise’s yellow card against Paraguay overturned.
Sources close to discussions claim Trump raised Balogun’s case with Infantino on three separate occasions.
Infantino has insisted the disciplinary ruling was reached independently and was not influenced by conversations with the US president.
Trump, however, openly claimed he had helped secure the outcome.
“I’m the one that got them to do it,” he said.
“I saw the play, and I’m a person that loves sports. That wasn’t a foul. That wasn’t even an infraction.
“This referee, who is a little bit suspect if you check his past. He made a call that nobody could believe.
“He’s our best player, or one of our best players. And he gave him a red card.”
The president also admitted he was unfamiliar with football’s disciplinary system before the incident.
“I didn’t know what the hell a red card was. When I found out, I said: ‘You gotta be kidding!'” he said.
Trump defended contacting Infantino by arguing the tournament should feature the world’s biggest stars.
“How would you feel if we took Messi, Ronaldo or Harry Kane out?” he said.
“We have our best players, and they have to have their best, and if we win or we lose, it’s fair.”
UEFA described FIFA’s intervention as crossing a “red line”.
Politicians from across the UK also criticised the governing body.
Labour MP Clive Betts, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Football, said FIFA needed to explain its actions.
“If it literally was just a phone call from Trump then I’m sorry, but I think he has to resign or FIFA has to sack him if he won’t,” he said.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey added: “Infantino must go. No matter where it’s held, the World Cup belongs to the fans – not gangsters like Trump.”
Former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron branded the decision “straight-up tin-pot corruption” and questioned whether England should now seek to overturn Quansah’s suspension.
Former sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe called for an immediate inquiry, arguing politicians and football administrators had damaged the integrity of the sport.
In response, Infantino insisted FIFA’s judicial bodies operate independently of his authority.
“FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent,” he 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.”
His explanation failed to convince critics.
Labour peer Lord Rees described the episode as “an embarrassment to the sport”, while Labour MP Clive Efford said it demonstrated FIFA remained “rotten to the core”.
Labour MP Noah Law has also written to Infantino urging him to overturn Quansah’s suspension, while one senior European football figure told Telegraph Sport that, if the decision was a direct response to political lobbying, it came close to a governing body assisting match-fixing.
Despite the criticism, Trump praised FIFA’s decision.
“I think the referee’s call was horrible,” he said.
“I asked only for a review. I didn’t tell them what to do. I can’t tell them what to do.”
