FIFA president Gianni Infantino presented the inaugural "FIFA Peace Prize" to the president of the United States, Donald Trump, on December 5, 2025, in Washington. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the independence of world football’s judicial bodies amid widespread debate over the decision to overturn the suspension of United States striker Folarin Balogun.
He insisted that the ruling was made autonomously under FIFA’s disciplinary processes, despite acknowledging that he had discussed the matter with US President Donald Trump.
The controversy erupted after FIFA’s independent Disciplinary Committee overturned Balogun’s red card suspension, prompting criticism from sections of the football community over the timing of the decision and speculation about possible political influence after Trump publicly claimed he had intervened on the player’s behalf.
Responding in a statement on Monday, Infantino stressed that FIFA’s judicial bodies operate independently of the organisation’s leadership.
