FIFA President Gianni Infantino has come under heavy criticism for allegedly bowing to pressure from US President Donald Trump and, in the process, coming close to violating some of FIFA's long-standing rules, the writer argues.
US President Donald Trump has done it again. He has caused a political firestorm by interfering in the World Cup, asking for the ban on US striker Folarin Balogun to be lifted.
Immediately after the US-Bosnia and Herzegovina match, Trump reached out to his friend, FIFA President Gianni Infantino. "Look, Infantino. Get the red card given to Balogun overturned, and you will be richly rewarded!"
How could he refuse the world's most powerful man? "No problem, Mr President," said the FIFA boss. "I'll get it done straight away." And so Infantino got his officials to rescind Balogun's red card.
Trump has brazenly admitted in a press conference that he did ask FIFA to lift Balogun's match ban. He said the referee was "a little suspect" and that "taking off the best player isn't fair". Holy Moses! What does Trump know about what is fair and unfair?
