Gianni Infantino promised US President Donald Trump he would resolve Folarin Balogun’s World Cup suspension, the New York Post reported, citing sources briefed on their July 1 telephone conversation.
Infantino heads the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). He maintains that its independent judicial bodies handled the case, while a spokesperson reiterated that FIFA’s position had not changed.
Wednesday’s account alleges a personal assurance from Infantino before Balogun’s ban reprieve. FIFA’s response did not specifically explain what he told Trump during the call.
Trump previously acknowledged asking Infantino to review the punishment. He insisted that he had not demanded a particular outcome.
In an earlier public statement, Infantino described explaining that a legal process was underway and that the competent judicial bodies would decide the case. “That is how FIFA’s system works,” he said.
Balogun received a red card for a challenge on Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemović during the United States’ 2-0 round-of-32 victory. His dismissal triggered an automatic one-match suspension.
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee later suspended the punishment for a one-year probationary period. It did not remove the red card.
That decision made Balogun available for the round-of-16 match against Belgium. The United States lost 4-1 and exited the 2026 World Cup.
At Thursday’s council meeting in Zurich, members deferred a proposed change to the suspension rules, The Guardian reported.
FIFA’s official account confirmed that the council commissioned a review of disciplinary procedures following the Balogun decision.
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Infantino separately apologised at the meeting for failures in communication and consultation over the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal. That initiative envisaged private investment in part of FIFA’s commercial business.
FIFA confirmed that it had permanently withdrawn the proposal.
Its Legal Committee will examine disciplinary procedures and present its review at the next council meeting in December.
